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A11777 The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes ... By the English College of Doway; Bible. O.T. English. Douai. Martin, Gregory, d. 1582. 1609-1610 (1610) STC 2207; ESTC S101944 2,522,627 2,280

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temple of our Lord. † And they that are far shal come and shal build in the temple of our Lord and you shal know that the Lord of hosts sent me to you But this shal be if hearing you wil heare the voice of our Lord your God CHAP. VII The fast of the fift and seuenth moneth obserued in the captiuitie being good 5. was vnperfect 8. fasting from sinne is alwayes more necessarie AND it came to passe in the fourth yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie in the fourth of the ninth moneth which is Casleu † And Sarasar and Rogommelech and the men that were with him sent to the house of God to besech the face of our Lord that they should say to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and to the prophets saying Must I weepe in the fifth moneth or must I san ctifie myself as now I haue done manie yeares † And the word of the Lord of hosts was made to me saying Speake to al the people of the land and to the priests saying when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and the seuenth for these seuentie yeares did you fast a fast vnto me † and when you did eate and drinke did you not eate for your selues and drinke for your selues † Why are they not the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of the former prophets when Ierusalem as yet was inhabited and was welthie it self and the cities round about it and toward the South and in the champine there was dwelling † And the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie saying † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts saying Iudge ye true Iudgement and doe ye mercie miserations euerie man with his brother † And the widow and the pupil and the stranger and the poore doe not calumniate and let not a man thinke in his hart euil to his brother † And they would not attend and they turned away the shoulder departing and they aggrauated their eares not to heare † And they made their hart as the adamant lest they should heare the law the wordes which the Lord sent in his spirit by the hand of the former prophetes and there was great indignation made from the Lord of hosts † And it came to passe as he spake and they heard not so shal they crie I wil not heare sayth the Lord of hosts † And I dispersed them through out al kingdoms which they know not and the land was left desolate of them for that there was none passing returning and the land to be desired they layd into a desert CHAP. VIII God wil geue abundance of spiritual benefites to al nations by Christ 7. to whom shal be conuerted 13. manie Iewes 20. but manie more Gentiles AND the word of the Lord of hosts was made saying † Thus sayth the Lord of hostes I haue bene ielous for Sion with great zeale and with great indignation haue I bene ielous for it † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts I am returned to Sion and I wil dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and Ierusalem shal be called the Citie of truth the Mount of the Lord of hosts the sanctified mount † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet shal old men dwel and old wemen in the streets of Ierusalem and euerie mans stafe in his hand for multitude of yeares † And the streets of the citie shal be filled with infantes and girles playing in the streets therof † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts If it shal seme hard in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those dayes Why shal it be hard in mine eyes sayth the Lord of hosts † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Behold I wil saue my people from the land of the East and from the land of the Going downe of the sunne † And I wil bring them and they shal dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and they shal be my people and I wil be their God in truth and in iustice † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Let your handes be strengthned you that heare in these dayes these words by the mouth of the prophets in the day that the house of the Lord of hosts was founded that the temple might be built † For before those dayes there was no hyre for men neither was there hyre for beasts neither was there peace to the comer in nor goer out for tribulation and I did let goe al men euerie one against his neighbour † But now not according to the former dayes wil I doe to the remnant of this people sayth the Lord of hosts † but the seede of peace shal be the vine shal geue his fruite and the earth shal geue her spring and the heauens shal geue their dew and I wil make the remnant of this people to possesse al these thinges † And it shal be as you were a malediction among the Gentils ô house of Iuda house of Israel so wil I saue you and you shal be a benediction feare not let your handes be strengthned † Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As I purposed to afflict you when your fathers had prouoked me to wrath sayth our Lord † and I had no mercie so conuerting I haue meant in these dayes to doe good to the house of Iuda and Ierusalem feare not † These then are the wordes which you shal doe Speake ye truth euerie one with his neighbour truth and iudgement of peace iudge ye in your gates † And thinke ye not euerie man in your hart euil against his frend lying othe loue ye not for al these things are such as I hate sayth our Lord. † And the word of our Lord of hosts was made to me saying † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts The fast of the fourth and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seuenth and the fast of the tenth shal be to the house of Iuda into ioy and gladnes into goodlie solemnities truth onlie and peace loue ye † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts vntil peoples come dwel in manie cities † and the inhabitants goe one to an other saying Let vs goe and besech the face of our Lord and let vs seeke the Lord of hosts I also wil goe † And manie peoples shal come and strong nations to seeke the Lord of hosts in Ierusalem to besech the face of our Lord. † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts In those dayes wherein ten men of al the tongue of the Gentils shal take hold and they shal take hold of the skirt of a man that is a Iewe saying We wil goe with you for we haue heard that God is with you CHAP. IX The bordering enimies of the Iewes shal beleue in Christ 9. who wil first come to the Iewes in mekenes yet in solemnitie riding on an asse 11. deliuer the godlie from the lake 12. geue great thinges to the
bene long a seiourner † With them that hated peace I was peaceable when I spake to them they impugned me without cause PSALME CXX The iust reioyce that their prayer is heard and that God continually protecteth them A gradual Canticle I HAVE lifted vp mine eies vnto the mountaines from whence helpe shal come to me † My helpe is from our Lord who made heauen and earth † Geue he not thy foote to be moued neither doe he slumber that keepeth thee † Loe he shal not slumber nor sleepe that kepeth Israel † Our lord kepeth thee our Lord is thy protection vpon thy right hand † By day the sunne shal not burne thee nor the moone by night † Our Lord doth kepe thee from al euil our Lord kepe thy soule † Our Lord kepe thy coming in and thy going out from hence forth now and for euer PSALME CXXI Vnder the figure of returne to Ierusalem vehemently desired by the Iewes in captiuitie the Psalmist describeth the desire and hope of the iust ●o possesse heauen A gradual Canticle I REIOYCED in these thinges which were sayd to me We shal goe into the house of our Lord. † Our feete were standing in thy courtes ô Ierusalem † Ierusalem which is built as a citie whose participation is together in it self † For thither did the tribes ascend the tribes of our Lord the testimonie of Israel to confesse vnto the name of our Lord. † Because seates sate there in iudgement seates vpon the house of Dauid † A●ke ye the thinges that are for the peace of Ierusalem and abundance to them that loue thee † Peace be made in thy strength and abundance in thy towers † For my bretheren and my neigbours sakes I spake peace of thee † For the house of our Lord God I haue sought good thinges to thee PSALME CXXII A feruent and attentiue prayer to be deliuered from captiuitie or anie other affliction A gradual Canticle TO thee haue I lifted vp mine eies which dwellest in the heauens † Behold as the eies of seruantes are on the handes of their masters As the eies of the handmaide on the handes of her mistresse so are our eies to our Lord God vntil he haue mercie on vs. † Haue mercie on vs ô Lord haue mercie on vs because we are much replenished with contempt Because our soule is much replenished reproch to them that abund and contempt to the prowde PSALME CXXIII The whole Church and euerie iust person gratfully confesseth that by Gods protection they are secure without which none could escape ruine A gradual Canticle BVT that our Lord was in vs let Israel now say † but that our Lord was in vs When men rose vp against vs † perhaps they had swalowed vs aliue When their furie was angrie against vs † perhaps water had swalowed vs. † Our soule hath passed through a torrent perhaps our soule had passed through an intolerable water † Blessed be our Lord which hath not geuen vs for a pray to their teeth † Our soule as a sparow is deliuered from the snare of the fowlers The snare is broken and we are deliuered † Our helpe is in the name of our Lord who made heauen and earth PSALME CXXIIII The Church and holie members therof are alwayes protected by God 5. The wicked being suffered for a while are at last punished A gradual Canticle THEY that trust in our Lord as mount Sion he shal not be moued for euer that dwelleth † in Ierusalem Mountaines round about it and our Lord round about his people from hence forth now and for euer † Because our Lord wil not leaue the rod of sinners vpon the lote of the iust that the iust reach not their handes to iniquitie † Doe wel ô Lord to the good and right of hart † But those that decline into obligations our Lord wil bring with them that worke iniquitie peace vpon Israel PSALME CXXV Isralites released from captiuitie of Babylon much more the blessed both of the old and new testament deliuered by Christ from captiuitie of sinne de reioyce 5. Who neuertheles must passe through tribulation to eternal felicitie A gradual Canticle VVHEN our Lord turned the captiuitie of Sion we were made as men comforted † Then was our mouth replenished with ioy and our tongue with exultation Then shal they say among the Gentiles Our Lord hath done magnifically with them † Our Lord hath done magnifically with vs we are made ioyful † Turne our captiuitie ô Lord as a torrent in the South † They that sow in teares shal reape in ioyfulnesse † Going they went and wept casting their seedes † But coming they shal come with exultation carying their sheaues PSALME CXXVI Neither house nor citie can be built or kept without Gods special prouidence and helpe 3. those that trust in him shal prosper in their endeuours A gradual Canticle of Salomon VNLESSE our Lord build the house they haue laboured in vayne that build it Vnlesse our Lord kepe the citie he watcheth in vayne that kepeth it † It is vaine for you to rise before light rise ye after ye haue sitten which eate the bread of sorow † When he shal giue sleepe to his beloued behold the inheritance of our Lord are children the reward the fruite of the wombe † As arrowes in the hand of the mightie so are the children of them that are shaken † Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire of them he shal not be confounded when he shal speake to his enemies in the gate PSALME CXXVII Happines both of this life and of the next is obtayned by fearing and sincerely seruing God A gradual Canticle BLESSED are al that feare our Lord that walke in his wayes † Because thou shalt eate the labours of thy handes blessed art thou and it shal be wel with thee † Thy wife as a fruitful vine in the sides of thy house Thy children as young plantes of oliuetrees round about thy table † Behold so shal the man be blessed that feareth our Lord. † Our Lord out of Sion blesse thee and that thou mayst see the good thinges of Ierusalem al the dayes of thy life And that thou mayst see thy childrens children peace vpon Israel PSALME CXXVIII The Church often 3. and much impugned is not ouercome 4. Her persecuters are destroyed 6. contemned 8. and cursed A gradual Canticle OFTEN haue they impugned me from my youth let Israel now say † Often haue they impugned me from my youth but they haue not preuailed against me † Sinners haue builded vpon my
of our Lord shal rest vpon him the spirit of wisdom and vnderstanding the spirit of counsel and strength the spirit of knowlege and pietie † and the spirit of the feare of our Lord shal repleinsh him He shal not iudge according to the sight of the eies nor rebuke according to the hearing of the eares † But he shal iudge the poore in iustice and shal rebuke in equitie for the milde of the earth and he shal strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the spirit of his lippes he shal kil the impious † And iustice shal be the girdle of his loynes and fayth the girdle of his reines † The woolfe shal dwel with the lambe and the leopard shal lie with the kid the calfe and lion and sheepe shal abide together a litle child shal leade them † The calfe and the beare shal feede their yong ones shal rest together and the lion shal eate strawe as it were an oxe † And the infant from the brest shal be delighted vpon the hole of the aspe he that is weyned shal thrust his hand into the hole of the cockatrice † They shal not hurt and they shal not kil in al my holie mountayne because the earth is replenished with the knowlege of our Lord as the couering waters of the sea † In that day the roote of Iesse that standeth for a signe of peoples him the nations shal besech his sepulchre shal be glorious † And it shal be in that day our Lord shal put to his hand the second time to possesse the remnant of his people which shal be leaft of the Assirians and of Aegypt and of Phethros and of Aethiopia and of Aelam and of Sennaar and of Emath and of the ilands of the sea † And he shal lift vp a signe vnto the nations and shal assemble together the fugitiues of Israel and shal gather the dispersed of Iuda from the foure quarters of the earth † And the emulation of Ephraim shal be taken away and the enemies of Iuda shal perish Ephraim shal not enuie Iuda Iuda shal not fight against Ephraim † And they shal flie vpon the shoulders of the Philisthims by the sea they together shal spoile the children of the East Idumea and Moab the precept of their hand and the children of Ammon shal be obedient † And our Lord shal make desolate the tongue of the sea of Aegypt and shal lift vp his hand ouer the riuer in the strength of his spirit and he shal strike him in his seuen streames so that they may passe through it with showes † And there shal be a way to the remnant of my people which shal be leaft of the Assirians as there was to Israel in the day that he came vp out of the Land of Aegypt CHAP. XII A Canticle of thankes for the benefites of Christ AND thou shalt say in that day I WIL confesse to thee ô Lord because thou wast angrie with me thy furie is turned away and thou hast comforted me † Behold God is my sauiour I wil doe confidently and wil not feare because our Lord is my strength and my praise and he is become my saluation † You shal drawe waters in ioy out of the sauiours fountaines † And you shal say in that day Confesse ye to our Lord and inuocate his name make his inuentions knowen among the peoples remember that his name is high † Sing ye to our Lord because he hath done magnifically shew this forth in al the earth † Reioyce and prayse ô habitation of Sion because great in the middes of thee is the holie one of Israel CHAP. XIII The Prophet fortelleth the calamitie and ruine of Babylon THE burden of Babylon which Isaie the sonne of Amossaw † Vpon the darke mountaine lift vp a signe exalt the voice lift vp the hand and let the dukes enter the gates † I haue commanded my sanctified and haue called my strong ones in my wrath them that reioce in my glorie † The voice of a multitude in the mountaines as it were of manie peoples a voice of the sound of kinges nations gathered together The Lord of hostes hath commanded the host of battel † Coming from a countrie far of from the end of heauen our Lord and the instruments of his furie to destroy the whole land † Howleye because the day of our Lord is nere it shal come as destruction from our Lord. † For this cause shal al handes be dissolued and euerie hart of man shal melt † and be broken Gripings and paines shal hold them they shal be in paine as she that trauaileth Euerie one shal be astonied at his neighbour their countenances as faces burnt † Behold the day of our Lord shal come cruel and ful of indignation and of wrath and furie to bring the land to a wildernes and to destroy the sinners therof out of it † Because the starres of heauen and their brightnes shal not display their light the sunne is darkened in his rysing and the moone shal not shine in her light † And I wil visite ouer the euiles of the world and against the impious their iniquitie and I wil make the pride of infidels to cease and wil humble the arrogancie of the strong † A man shal be more precious then gold man then pure fine gold † For this I shal truble heauen the earth shal be moued out of her place for the indignation of the Lord of hostes for the day of the wrath of his furie † And it shal be as a yong doe fleing and as a sheepe and there shal be none to gather them together euerie man shal turne to his owne people and euerie one shal flee to his owne land † Euerie one that shal be found shal be slaine and cuerie one that shal come to ayde shal fal by the sword † Their infants shal be dashed in peeces before their eies their houses shal be spoiled and their wiues shal be rauished † Behold I wil rayse vpon them the Medes which shal not seeke siluer nor desire gold † But with arrowes they shal kil the litle ones and shal haue no pitie vpon the sucklings of the wombe and vpon the children their eie shal not spare † And that Babylon glorious in kingdoms noble in the pride of the Chaldees shal be euen as our Lord subuerted Sodom and Gomorrha † It shal not be inhabited for euer it shal not be founded vnto generation generation neither shal the Arabian pitch his tents there nor shepeheardes rest there † But beastes shal rest there and their houses shal be filled with dragons and ostreches shal dwel there and Satyrs shal daunce there † And the Syrach owles shal answer there in the houses therof and mermaides in the temples of pleasure CHAP. XIIII The Iewes shal be released from the captiuitie of Babylon 12. Nabuchodonosor
where is he that brought them out of the sea with the pastours of his flocke Where is he that put in the middes of him the spirit of his holie one † He that brought out Moyses to the right hand by the arme of his maiestie that diuided the waters before them that he might make to himself an euerlasting name † He that brought them out through the depthes as an horse in the desert that stumbled not † As the beast that goeth downe in the plaine filde the spirit of our Lord was their conductor so didst thou bring thy people that thou mightest make thee a name of glorie † Attend from heauen and looke from thy holie habitation of thy glorie where is thy zele and thy strength the multitude of thy bowels and of thy mercies they haue held backe them selues toward me † For thou art our father and “ Abraham hath not knowen vs and Israel hath bene ignorant of vs thou ô Lord art our father our redemer from the begynning is thy name † Why hast thou made vs erre ô Lord from thy waies hast thou hardned our hart that we feared not thee Returne for thy seruants the tribes of thine inheritance † As nothing haue they possessed thy holie people our enemies haue troden downe thy sanctification † We are become as in the begynning when thou didst not rule ouer vs neither was thy name inuocated vpon vs. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. LXIII 16. Abraham hath not knovvne vs. The faithful people considering their ovvne great frequent inueterate sinnes vvith the extreme calamities wherinto they vvere fallen for the same supposed that their progenitor Abraham vvhom God had particularly called out of his countrie Iacob of vvhose tvvelue sonnes the vvhole nation vvas propagated did no longer acknowlege them for their children because they had so greuously offended God vvere not vvorthie of anie fauour Al vvhich notwithstanding yet they hoped in Gods incomparable mercie that his diuine goodnes being Creator of al who had elected them for his peculiar people brought them out of Aegypt and often deliuered them from sundrie afflictions vvould againe reduce them from capti●itie and as their merciful father remitte their sinnes and releue their miseries though Abraham Iacob and other Patriarches had iustly reiected them as lost children This being the proper literal sense of this place according to S. Ieroms and other ancient Doctors explication it maketh nothing at al for the old and new heresie of Vigilantius Luther denying that Sainctes in an other life do knovv vvhat is donne in this vvorld For albeit the Patriarches in zele of iustice did not acknovvlege their carnal posteritie because of their great sinnes for their children yet they knevv their state as S. Augustin li. de cura pro mortuis interpreting this and other places of holie Scripture teacheth partly by relation of such as passed from hence to them partly by holie Angels and especially by diuine inspirations As it is clere that Abraham knevv the state of poore Lazarus of the rich glutton describing vvhat ech of them had deserued and consequently receiued Much more both the old Patriarches and al other Sainctes in eternal glorie knovv ●●h other though neuer sene nor knovvne before in this vvorld as S. Gregorie teacheth li 4 c. 33. Dialogi The glorified Sainctes see also in God that vvhich perteyneth to their clientes that pray vnto them in earth so farre as God doth ordaine more clerly by light of glorie then prophetes see by light of prophecie as S. Augustin teacheth But touching the maner he saith it exceeded the reach of his vnderstanding hovv Martyrs do helpe those vvho it is certaine are holpen by them So discoursing at large of the vncertaine maner shevveth that there is no doubt at al of the thing it selfe that Sainctes in heauen do knovv mortal mens necessities hea●e their prayers and helpe them by their intercession and merites vvhich he confirmeth also li. 20. c. 21. cont Faust Tract 8. in Ioan. Ser. 5. de Sanctis Likevvise S. Ierom against Vigilan●ius S. Gregorie li. 3. Epist ep ●0 li. 7. ep 126. li. 9. ep 38 and others in manie places CHAP. LXIIII. The Iewes in captiuitie pray to God for release 4. acknowleging his former great benefites and their owne sinnes fleing now to his mercie VVOVLD God thou wouldest breake the heauens in sunder and wouldst descend at thy presence the mountaines should melt away † As the burning of fyre would they melt the waters would burne with fyre that thy name might be made knowen to thine enemies at thy presence the nations should be trubled † When thou shalt doe meruelous thinges we shal not sustayne thou art descended and at thy presence the mountaines are melted † From the begynning of the world they haue not heard nor receiued with the eares the eie hath not seene ô God beside thee what thinges thou hast prepared for them that expect thee † Thou hast mette him that reioyceth and doth iustice in thy waies they shal remember thee behold thou art angrie and we haue sinned we haue bene alwayes in them and we shal be saued † And al we are become as one vncleane and al our iustices as the cloth of a menstrued woman and we haue al fallen as a leafe and our iniquities as the winde haue taken vs away † There is none that inuocateth thy name that ryseth vp and holdeth thee thou hast hid thy face from vs and hast dashed vs in the hand of our iniquitie † And now Lord thou art our father and we clay and thou art our maker and al we the workes of thy handes † Be not angrie ô Lord ynough and remember no more our iniquitie loe regard al we are thy people † The citie of thy holie one is made desert Sion is made desert Ierusalem is become desolate † The house of our sanctification and of our glorie where our fathers praysed thee is turned into the burning of fyre and al our thinges worthie to be desired are turned into ruines † Wil● thou vpon these thinges conteyne thyself ô Lord wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict vs vehemently CHAP. LXV The gentiles shal seeke and finde Christ 2. Whom the Iewes wil persecute and shal be reiected only a few reliques reserued 13. So the Church shal multiplie and abound in graces THEY haue sought me that before asked not they haue found that sought me not I said Behold me behold me to a Gentilitie that did not inuocate my name † I haue spred fo●th mine handes al the day to an incredulous people which goeth in a way not good after their owne cogitations † A people that prouoke me to anger before my face alwayes that immolate in gardens and sacrifice vpon brickes † That dwel in sepulchers and sleepe in temples of idols that eate swines flesh and profane potage in their vessels † That say
hath wept in the night and her teares are on her cheekes there is none to comfort her of al her deare ones al her freindes haue despised her and are become her enimies Iudas is gone into transmigration because of affliction and the multitude of bondage she hath dwelt among the Gentiles neither hath she found rest al her persecuters haue apprehended her within the straites The waies of Sion mourne because there are none that come to the solemnitie al her gates are destroyed her priestes sighing her virgins lothsome and herself is oppressed with bitternes Her aduersaries are made in the head her enemies are enriched because our Lord hath spoken vpon her for the multitude of her iniquities her litle ones are led into captiuitie before the face of the afflicter And from the daughter of Sion al her beautie is departed her princes are become as rammes not fynding pastures and they are gone without strength before the face of the pursewer Ierusalem hath remembred the dayes of her affliction and preuarication of al her thinges worthie to be desyred which she had from the daies of old when her people fel in the enimies hand and there was no helper the enemies haue sene her and haue scorned her sabbathes Ierusalem hath sinned a sinne therfore is she made vnstable al that did glorifie her haue despised her because they haue sene her ignominie but she sighing is turned backward Her filthines is on her feete neither hath she remembred her end she is pulled downe excedingly not hauing a comforter see ô Lord mine affliction because the enemie is exalted The enimie hath thrust his hand to al her thinges worthie to be desyred because she hath sene the Gentiles enter into her sanctuarie of whom thou gauest commandment that they should not enter into thy church Al her people sighing and seeking bread they haue geuen al precious thinges for meate to refresh the soule see ô Lord and consider because I am become vyle O al ye that passe by the way attend and see if there be sorow like to my sorow because he hath made vintage of me as our Lord hath spoken in the day of the wrath of his furie From on high he hath cast a fyre in my bones and hath taught me he hath spred a net for my feete he hath turned me backward he hath made me desolate al the day consumed with sorow The yoke of mine iniquities hath watched they are folded together in his hand and put vpon my necke my strength is weakened our Lord hath geuen me into the hand from which I can not rise Our Lord hath taken away al my magnifical ones out of the middes of me he hath called a time against me to destroy mine elect our Lord hath troden the winepresse to the virgin the daughter of Iuda Therfore am I weeping and mine eye shedding teares because a comforter is made far from me conuerting my soule my children are become desolate because the enemie hath preuayled Sion hath spred forth her handes there is none to comfort her our Lord hath commanded against Iacob round about him are his enemies Ierusalem is become as a woman polluted with menstrous floores among them Our Lord is iust because I haue prouoked his mouth to wrath heare I beseech al ye peoples and see my sorow my virgins and my pong men are gone into captiuitie I haue called my freindes they haue deceiued me my priestes and my ancientes are consumed in the citie because they haue sought meat for themselues to refresh their soule See ô Lord that I am in tribulation my bellie is trubled my hart is ouerturned in myself because I am ful of bitternes the sword killeth abrode and at home it is lyke death They haue heard that I doe sigh and there is none to comfort me al mine enimies haue heard mine euil they haue reioyced because thou hast done it thou hast brought a day of consolation and they shal be made lyke to me Let al their euil enter in before thee and vintage them as thou hast vintaged me for al mine iniquities for my sighings are manie and my hart is sorowful CHAP. II. HOW hath our Lord in his furie couered the daughter of Sion with darknes cast forth the noble one of Israel from heauen to the earth and hath not remembred the footestoole of his feete in the day of his furie Our Lord hath cast downe headlong and hath not spared al the beautiful thinges of Iacob he hath destroyed in his furie the munitions of the virgin of Iuda and cast it downe to the ground he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes therof He hath broken euerie horne of Israel in the wrath of furie he hath turned away his right hand backward from the face of the enemie and he hath kinled in Iacob as it were the ●yre of a flame deuouring round about He hath bent his bow as an enemie he hath fastned his right hand as an aduersarie and he hath killed al that was fayre to behold in the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion he hath powred out his indignation as fyre Our Lord is become as an enemie he hath cast downe Israel headlong he hath cast downe headlong al her walles he hath destroyed the munitions therof and hath replenished in the daughter of Iuda the humbled man and humbled woman And he hath destroyed his tent as a garden he hath throwen downe his tabernacle our Lord hath brought festiuitie and sabbath in Sion to obliuion and king and priest into reproch and into the indignation of his furie Our Lord hath reiected he hath cursed his sanctification he hath deliuered the walles of the towers therof into the hand of the enemie they haue made a noyse in the house of our Lord as in a solemne day Our Lord hath meant to destroy the wal of the daughter of Sion he hath streched out his corde and hath not turned away his hand from destruction and the forewal hath mourned and the wal is destroyed together Her gates are fastned in the ground he hath destroyed and broken ber barres her king and her princes in the Gentiles there is no law and her prophets haue not found vision from our Lord. The ancients of the daughter of Sion haue sitten on the ground they haue held their peace they haue sprinkled their heades with dust they are girded with heare clothes the virgins of Ierusalem haue cast downe their heades to the ground Myne eies haue fayled for teares my bowels are trubled my liuer is powred out on the earth for the destruction of the daughter of my people when the litle one and the sucking faynted in the streetes of the towne They sayd to their mothers Where is wheate and wyne when they faynted
and sayd As yet fourtie dayes and Niniue shal be subuerted † And the men of Niniue beleued in God and they proclamed a fast and were clothed with sackcloths from the greater to the lesser † And the word came to the king of Niniue and he rose vp out of his throne and cast away his garment from him and was clothed with sackcloth and sate in ashes † And he cried and sayd in Niniue from the mouth of the king of his princes saying Men and beasts and oxen and cattel let them not taste any thing nor feede and let them not drinke water † And let men and beasts be couered with sackcloths and crie to our Lord in strength and let euerie man conuert from his euil way from the iniquitie that is in their handes † Who knoweth if God wil conuert and forgeue and wil returne from the furie of his wrath and we shal not perish † And God saw their workes that they were conuerred from their euil way and God had mercie on the euil which he had spoken that he would do to them and he did it not CHAP. IIII. The prophet lamenteth for that he was commanded to preach otherwise then it came to passe 5. Going forth he stayeth nere the citie to see the end 6. an yuie growing couereth his head from the sunne 7. but withereth the next day 8. he lamenting desireth to dye 10. and God sheweth that it is more meete to saue Niniue then the yuie AND Ionas was afflicted with great affliction and was * angrie † and he prayed to our Lord and sayd I besech thee ô Lord Why is not this my word when I was yet in my countrie for this did I preuent to flee into Tharsis For I know that thou art a clement and merciful God patient and of much compassion and forgeuing vpon the euil † And now Lord take I besech thee my soule from me because better is death to me then life † And our Lord sayd Art thou angrie wel thinkest thou † And Ionas went out of the citie and sate against the East part of the citie and he made himself a bowre there and he sate vnder it in the shadow til he might see what would befal to the citie † And our Lord God prepared an iuie tree it came vp ouer the head of Ionas to be a shadow ouer his head and to couer him for he had laboured and Ionas reioyced vpon the iuie with great ioy † And God prepared a worme in the rysing of the morning against the morrow and it stroke the iuie and it withered † And when the sunne was risen our Lord commanded an hotte and burning winde and the sunne beate vpon the head of Ionas and he broyled for heate and he desired for his soule to dye and sayd It is better for me to dye then to liue † And our Lord sayd to Ionas Art thou angrie wel thinkest thou for the iuie And he sayd I am angrie wel euen vnto death † And our Lord sayd Thou art sorie for the iuie wherin thou hast not laboured nor made it to grow which in one night came forth and in one night is perished † And shal not I spare Niniue the great citie wherin are more then a hundred twentie thousand men that know not what is betwen their right hand and their left and manie beastes THE PROPHECIE OF MICHEAS MICHEAS a Morasthite of the tribe of Ephraim prophecied part of the time with Isai the former fiue lesse Prophets against both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda foreshewing their captiuities and relaxation of Iuda from Babylon their conuersion to Christ nere the end of the world and that in the meane time al other nations shal beleue in Christ CHAP. I. Samaria and al the tenne tribes shal be brought into captiuitie by the Assirians 9. The two tribes shal also be inuaded and spoyled euen nere to Ierusalem THE word of our Lord that was made to Michaeas the Morasthite in the dayes of Ioathan Achaz and Ezechias kinges of Iuda which he saw vpon Samaria and Ierusalem † Heare al ye peoples and let the earth attend and the fulnes therof and let our Lord God be vnto you for a witnes our Lord out of his holie temple † Because loe our Lord wil goe forth out of his place and he wil descend wil tread vpon the highest of the earth † And the mountaines shal be consumed vnder him and the valleis shal be clouen as waxe at the presence of fyre as waters that runne downe headlong † For the wickednes of Iacob al this and for the sinnes of the house of Israel what is the wickednes of Iacob is it not Sammaria and what the excelses of Iuda is it not Ierusalem † And I wil lay Samaria as a heape of stones in the filde when a vineyard is planted and I wil plucke downe her stones into the valley wil discouer her fundations † And al her sculptils shal be cut in sunder and al her wages shal be burnt with fyre and I wil lay al her idols into perdition because they are gathered together of the wages of an harlot vnto the hyre of an harlot they shal returne † Vpon this wil I lament and howle I wil goe spoiled and naked I wil make lamentation as of dragons and mourning as it were of striches † Because her plague is desperate because it is come euen to Iuda it hath touched the gate of my people euen to Ierusalem † In Geth declare it not weepe not with teares in the house of dust sprinkle your self with dust † And passe ye to your selues ô faire habitation confounded with ignominie she went not out that dwelleth in the going out the house adioyning shal receiue lamentation of you which stood to her self † Because she is weakened to good which dwelleth in bitternesses because euil is descended from our Lord into the gate of Ierusalem † Tumult of the chariot of astonishment to the inhabitant of Lachis it is the beginning of sinne to the daughter of Sion because in thee are found the wickednesses of Israel † Therfore shal he geue spoilers vpon the inheritance of Geth the houses of lying into deception to the kinges of Israel † As yet wil I bring an heyre to thee which dwellest in Maresa euen to Odolla shal the glorie of Israel come † Be bald and be pouled for the children of thy delicacies enlarge thy baldnes as an eagle because they are led captiues out of thee CHAP. II. By their great iniustice 7. notwithstanding their vaine presumption of Gods mercie wherto he is in dede most prone 8. the Israelites through their excessiue rapine prouoke God to punish them 12. yet when Christ shal come some Iewes wil serue him and manie more in the end of the world VVO TO you which thinke that is vnpofitable and worke euil in
Isaac and Iacob and of Osee and Amos and of Ioel and Abdias and Ionas and Michaeas † and Naum and Habacuc of Sophonias Aggaeus Zacharias and Malachias who also is called the Angel of our Lord. CHAP. II. The Synagogue expostulateth with her children for their ingratitude 10. shewing that they shal be forsaken and the gentiles called THVS saith our Lord I brought this people out of bondage to whom I gaue commandment by my seruantes the Prophetes whom they would not heare but made my counsel frustrate † Their mother that bare them sayth to them Goe children because I am a wydow and forsaken † I brought you vp with ioy haue lost you with mourning sorow because you haue sinned before our Lord your God haue done that which is euil before him † But now what shal I doe to you I am a wydow and desolate goe my children aske mercie of our Lord. † And I cal thee ô father a witnes vpon the mother of the children that would not keepe my testament † that thou geue them confusion their mother into spoile that there be no generation of them † Let their names be dispersed into the Gentiles let them be destroyed out of the land because they haue despised my sacrament † Woe be to thee Assur which hidest the wicked with thee Thou naughtie nation remember what I did to Sodom Gomorrha † whose land lieth in cloddes of pitch heapes of ashes so wil I make them that haue not heard me saith our Lord omnipotent † Thus saith our Lord to Esdras Tel my people that I wil geue them the kingdom of Ierusalem which I ment to geue to Israel † And I wil take to me the glorie of them and wil geue them eternal tabernacles which I had prepared for them † The wood of life shal be to them for an odour of oyntment and they shal not labour nor be wearied † Goe you shal receiue Aske for your selues a few dayes that they may abide Now the kingdom is prepared for you watch ye † Cal thou heauen and earth to witnes for I haue destroyed euil and haue created good because I liue sayth our Lord. † Mother embrace thy children bring them vp with ioy As a doue confirme their feete because I haue chosen thee sayth our Lord. † And I wil raise agal●e the dead out of their places and out of the monumentes I wil bring them forth because I haue knowen my name in Israel † Feare not ô mother of the children because I haue chosen t●ee faith our Lord. † I wil send thee ayde my seruantes I saie and Ieremie at whose counsel I haue sanctified and prepared for thee twelue trees loden with diuerse fruites † and as manie fountaines flowing milke and honie and seuen huge mountaines hauing the rose and the lilie in the which I wil fil thy children with ioy † Iustifie thou the widow iudge for the pupil geue to the needie defend the orphane cloth the naked † cure the broken feeble mocke not the lame defend the maimed and admitte the blind to the vision of my glorie † The old man the yong keepe with in thy walles where thou shalt finde the dead committe them to the graue signing it I wil geue thee the first seate in my resurrection † Pause and rest my people because thy rest shal come † As a good nurce nourish thy children confirme their feete † The seruantes that I haue geuen thee none of them shal perish For I wil require them of thy number † Be not wearied For when the day of affliction and distresse shal come others shal weepe and be sad but thou shalt be merie and plenteous † The gentiles shal enuie and shal be able to doe nothing against thee sayth our Lord. † My handes shal couer thee that thy children see not hel † Be pleasant thou mother with thy children because I wil deliuer thee sayth our Lord. † Remember thy children that sleepe for I wil bring them out of the sides of the earth wil doe mercie with them because I am merciful sayth our Lord omnipotent † Embrace thy children til I come shew them mercie because my fountaines runne ouer and my grace shal not faile † I Esdras receiued commandment of our Lord in mount Oreb that I should goe to Israel to whom when I came they refused me and reiected commandement of our Lord. † And therfore I say vnto you gentiles which heare and vnderstand Looke for your pastor he wil geue you the rest of eternitie because he is at hand that shal come in the end of the world † Be ye readie for the rewardes of the kingdom because perpetual light shal shine to you for time euerlasting † Flee from the shadow of this world receiue ye the pleasantnes of your glorie I openly cal to witnes my sauiour † Receiue the commended gift and be pleasant geuing thankes to him that called you to the heauenlie kingdomes † Arise stand see the number of them that are signed in the feast of our Lord. † They that haue transferred them selues from the shadow of the world haue receiued glorious garmentes of our Lord. † Receiue ô Sion thy number and shut vp thyne made white which haue accomplished the law of our Lord. † The number of thy children which thou didst wish is ful Desire the powre of our Lord that thy people may be sanctified which was called from the beginning † I Esdras saw in mount Sion a great multitude which I could not number and they did al prayse our Lord with songes † And in the middes of them was a young man high of stature appearing aboue ouer them al he put crownes vpon euerie one of their heades and he was more exalted And I was astonied at the miracle † Then asked I an Angel and sayd Who are these Lord † Who answering sayd to me These are they that haue laid of the mortal garment and taken an immortal and haue confessed the name of God Now they are crowned and receiue palmes † And I sayd to the Angel That yongman what is he which putteth the crownes vpon them and geueth palmes into their handes † And answering he sayd to me The same is the Sonne of God whom they did confesse in the world I begane to magnifie them that stood strongly for the name of our Lord † Then sayd the Angel to me Goe tel my people what maner of meruelous thinges and how great thou hast sene of the Lord God CHAP. III. The workes of God are wonderful from the beginning 7. and men vngratful 13. In Abraham God chose to himself a peculiar people who neuertheles were froward and obstinate 23. He also chose Dauid but stil the people were sinful 28. the Babylonians also by whom they are afflicted are no lesse but rather greater sinners IN the thirteth yeare of the ruine of the citie I was in
vertuous race of good life Much more those which also indure persecution for the truthes sake shal receiue most copious great rewardes in heauen For albeit the passions of this time in themselues are not condigne to the glorie to come that shal be reueled in vs yet our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh through grace aboue measure excedingly an eternal weight of glorie VVhat shal we therfore meditate of the especial prerogatiue of English Catholiques at this time For to you it is geuen for Christ not only that you beleue in him but also that you suffer for him A litle now if you must be made pensiue in diuers tentations that the probation of your faith much more precious then gold which is proued by the fire may be found vnto praise and glorie and honour in the reuelation of Iesus Christ Manie of you haue susteyned the spoile of your goodes with ioy knowing that you haue a better and a permanent substance Others haue benne depriued of your children fathers mothers brothers sisters and nerest frendes in readie resolution also some with sentence of death to lose your owne liues Others haue had trial of reproches mockeries and stripes Others of bandes prisons and banishmentes The innumerable renowmed late English Martyres Confessors whose happie soules for confessing true faith before men are now most glorious in heauen we passe here with silence because their due praise requiring longer discourse yea rather Angels then English tongues farre surpasseth the reach of our conceiptes And so we leaue it to your deuout meditation They now secure for themselues and solicitous for vs their dearest clientes incessantly we are wel assured intercede before Christs Diuine Maiestie for our happie consummation with the conuersion of our whole countrie To you therfore dearest frendes mortal we direct this speach admonishing ourselues you in the Apostles wordes that for so much as we haue not yet resisted tentations to last bloud and death itself patience is stil necessarie for vs that doing the wil of God we may receiue the promise So we repine not in tribulation but euer loue them that hate vs pittying their case and reioycing in our owne For neither can we see during this life how much good they do vs nor know how manie of them shal be as we hartely desire they al may be saued our Lord and Sauiour hauing paide the same price by his death for them and for vs. Loue al therefore pray for al. Do not lose your confidence which hath a great remuneration For yet a litle and a very litle while he that is to come wil come and he wil not slacke Now the iust liueth by faith beleeuing with hart to iustice and confessing with mouth to saluation But he that withdraweth himself shal not please Christs soule Attend to your saluation dearest countriemen You that are farre of draw nere put on Christ And you that are within Christs fold kepe your standing perseuere in him to the end His grace dwel and remaine in you that glorious crownes may be geuen you AMEN From the English College in Doway the Octaues of AL SAINCTES 1609. The God of patience and comfort geue you to be of one mind one tovvards another in IESVS Christ that of one mind vvith one mouth you may glorifie God THE SVMME AND PARTITION OF THE HOLIE BIBLE With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes By the vniforme consent of al learned Diuines the holie Bible or written word of God conteyneth Expressed orimplied al thinges that man is to beleue to obserue to auoid for obtayning of aeternal saluation That is al matters of faith maners by which we may know and serue God and so be spiritually ioyned with him in this life in eternitie For both the old new Testament propose and testifie vnto vs one and the same God the same Christ the same Church and other Mysteries of our beleefe not differing in substance but in maner of vttering the old more obscurely in figures and prophecies foretelling those thinges which the New declareth in great part as donne and performed VVherupon saith S. Augustin In the Old Testament the New lieth hidden in the New the Old lieth open And touching their names wherein appareth difference the one saith the same Doctor is called the old Testament either because it propofeth promises of temporal thinges VVherwith our old corruptnes is allured Or in respect of the New by which it is fulfilled and in some part abolished The other is called the New because by it man is renewed and hath promise of eternal life VVhich shal neuer waxe old nor decay Likewise S. Gregorie the great testifieth this conformitie and correspondence betwen the Old and New Testament affirming that the same is signified by the prophet Esccbiels vision of an hcele which had foure faces or apparence of foure whiles the shape whereof was as it were a wheele in the middes of a wheele What is this saith he nisi quod in Testamenti veteris litera Testamentum nouum latuit per Allegoriam but that in the letter of the old Testament the New lay hidden by an Allegorie And as the same is the summe and subject of both Testaments so both are diuided for the more principal partes therof into foure sortes of Bookes Legal Historical Sapiential Prophetical The Legal bookes of the old Testament are the fiue Bookes of Moises Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numeri Deuteronomie whereto answer in the new Testament the foure Gospels of S. Matthew S. Marke S. Luke S. Iohn Historical bookes of the old Testament are the Bookes of Iosue Iudges Ruth foure bookes of Kinges two of Paralipomenon Esdras with Nehemias Tobias Iudith Hester Iob two of the Machabees vnto which in the new Testament answer the Actes of the Apostles Sapiential of the old Testament are the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Canticles Booke of wisdome Ecclesiasticus and of like sorte are in the new Testament the Epistles of S. Paul of other Apostles Prophetical bookes are Dauids Psalter which is also Sapiential yea like wise Legal and Historical the Bookes of Isaias Ieremias with Baruch Ezechiel Daniel the twelue lesse Prophetes Osea Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas Michaeas Nahum Abacuc Sophonias Aggaeus Zacharias Malachias And in the new Testament the Apocalips of S. Iohn the Apostle Al these Bookes are vndoubtedly Canonical as the Authores cited in the inner margent testifie And consequently al and al the partes therof are of infallible truth For otherwise as S. Augustin teacheth if anie part were false or doubtful al were vncertaine once admittiug falsehood saith he Epist 8. ad Ieroni in such soueraigne authoritie no parcel of these bookes should remaine which anie way should seme hard to maners or incredible to beleue but it might by this most pernicious rule be turned to an officious
the thunders may cease and the haile that I may dismisse you and ye tarie not here any longer † Moyses said When I shal be gone forth out of the citie I wil stretch forth my handes to our Lord and the thunders shal cease and the haile shal not be that thou maist know that the earth is our Lords † but I know that neither thou nor thy seruantes do yet feare the Lord God † The flexe therfore and the barley were hurt because the barley came vp grene and the flaxe now was boulled † but the wheate and other winter corne were not hurt because they were late ward † And Moyses going forth from Pharao out of the citie stretched forth his handes to our Lord and the thunders haile ceased neither did there droppe raine any more vpon the earth † And Pharao seing that the raine and the haile and thunders were ceased he increased his sinne † and his hart was aggrauated and the hart of his seruantes and indurate exceedingly neither did he dismisse the children of Israel as our Lord had commanded by the hand of Moyses CHAP. X. The eight plague of Locustes 21. the ninth darknes Pharao yeldeth that al men and children should goe to the desert but not the cattle 28. At last commandeth Moyses to come no more in his sight which Moyses forecelleth shal so be AND our Lord said to Moyses Goe in to Pharao for I haue indurate his hart and the hart of his seruantes that I may worke these my signes in him † and thou maist tel in the eares of thy sonne and of thy nephewes how often I haue broken the Aegyptians wrought my signes in them and you may know that I am the Lord. † Moyses therfore and Aaron went in to Pharao and said to him Thus saith the Lord the God of the Hebrewes Til when wilt thou not be subiect to me dismisse mv people to sacrifice vnto me † But if thou resist and wilt not dismisse them behold I wil bring in to morow the locust into thy coastes † which may couer the face of the earth that nothing therof appeare but that which the haile hath left may be eaten for it shal gnawe al trees that spring in the fieldes † And they shal fil thy houses and the houses of thy seruantes and of al the Aegyptians such a number as thy fathers haue not seene nor grand-fathers since they arose vpon the earth vntil this present day And he turned him selfe away and went forth from Pharao † And Pharaoes seruantes said to him How long shal we endure this scandal Dismisse the men to sacrifice to the Lord their God Doest thou not see that Aegypt is vndone † And they called back Moyses and Aaron vnto Pharao who said to them Goe sacrifice to the Lord your God who are they that shal goe † Moyses said With our young and old we wil goe with our sonnes and daughters with our sheepe and heardes for it is the solemnitie of the Lord our God † And Pharao answered So be the Lord with you as I shal dismisle you and your litle ones who doubteth but that you intend very wickedly † It shal not so be but goe ye men only and sacrifice to the Lord for this your selues also desired And immediatly they were cast out from Pharaoes sight † And our Lord said to Moyses Strech forth thy hand vpon the Land of Aegypt vnto the locust that it come vpon it and deuoure euerie herbe that remained after the haile † And Moyses stretched forth his rodde vpon the Land of Aegypt and our Lord brought in a burning wind al that day night and when it was morning the burning winde raised the locustes † which came vp ouer the whole Land of Aegypt and sate in al the coastes of the Aegyptians innumerable the like as had not bene before that time nor shal be afterward † And they couered the whole face of the earth wasting al thinges Therfore the grasse of the earth was deuoured and what fruites soeuer on the trees which the haile had left there was also nothing at al left that was greene in the trees and in the herbes of the earth in al Aegypt † For the which cause Pharao in hast called Moyses and Aaron and said to them I haue sinned against the Lord your God and against you † But now forgeue me my sinne this time also and pray to the Lord your God that he take away from me this death † And Moyses going forth from Pharaoes sight prayed to our Lord † who made a very vehement wind to blow from the west and taking the locustes it threw them into the Red sea there remained not so much as one in al the coastes of Aegypt † And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart neither did he dismisse the children of Israel † And our Lord said to Moyses Stretch for thy hand toward heauen and be there darkenesse vpon the Land of Aegypt so thicke that it be palpable † And Moyses stretched forth his hand toward heauen and there was made horrible darkenesse in the whole Land of Aegypt three dayes † No man saw his brother nor moued himselfe out of the place where he was but wheresoeuer the children of Israel dwelt there was light † And Pharao called Moyses and Aaron and said to them Goe sacrifice to the Lord let your sheepe only and heardes remaine let your litle ones goe with you Moyses said Hostes also holocaustes thou shalt geue to vs which we may offer to the Lord our God † Al the flockes shal goe with vs there shal not a hoofe remaine of them the which are necessarie vnto the seruice of the Lord our God especially wheras we know not what must be offered til we come to the very place † And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart and he would not dismisse them † And Pharro said to Moyses Getre thee from me and beware thou see not my face any more in what day soeuer thou shalt come in my sight thou shalt dye † Moyses answered So shal it be as thou hast spoken I wil not see thy face any more CHAP. XI God biddeth Moyses cause the people of Israel to borow siluer and gold vessels of the Aegyptians 4. Fortelleth one other plague the death of the first borne 9. and that Pharao wil stil be obdurate AND our Lord said to Moyses Yet with one plague more wil I touch Pharao Aegypt and after this he shal dismisse you and compel you to goe forth † Thou shalt sav therfore to al the people that euerie man aske of his frend euery woman of her neighbour vessels of siluer of gold † And the Lord wil geue grace to his people in the sight of the Aegyptians And Moyses was a very great man in the Land of Aegypt in the sight of Pharaoes seruantes of al the people † And he said This saith our Lord At midnight
it is a vaine euasion to say God shewed his mercie for his promise sake only for he promised the same for their merites as appeareth in the places alleaged Though al merites procede from Gods grace first geuen without merite● 1. Cor. 4. v. 7. S. Aug. degrat lib. arb c. 6. CHAP. XXXIII Gods wrath being mitigated by Moyses the people mourne for their sinne 7. Moyses pitcheth the tabernacle vvithout the campe and therin conuerseth familiarly vvith God 18. desiring to see his glorie AND our Lord spake to Moyses saying Goe get thee vp from this place thou and thy people which thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt into the land wherof I sware to Abraham Isaac and Iacob saying To thy seede I wil giue it † and I wil send an Angel thy precusor that I may cast out the Chananeite and Amorrheite and Hetheite and Pherezeite and Heueite and Iebuseite † and thou maiest enter into the land that floweth with milke and honey for I wil not goe vp with thee because thou art a stiffenecked people lest perhappes I destroie thee in the way † And the people hearing this verie il saying mourned and no man put on his ornamentes after the custome † And our Lord sayd to Moyses Speake to the children of Israel Thou art a stiffenecked people once I shal goe vp in the middes of thee and shal destroy thee Now presently lay away thy ornamentes that I may know what to doe vnto thee † Therfore the children of Israel layd away their ornamentes from mount Horeb. † Moyses also taking the tabernacle pitched it without the campe a farre of and called the name thereof The Tabernacle of couenant And al the people that had anie question went forth to the Tabernacle of couenant without the campe † And when Moyses went forth to the tabernacle al the people rose vp and euerie one stoode in the dore of his pauilion and they beheld the backe of Moyses til he entred into the tabernacle † And when he was entred into the Tabernacle of couenant the piller of the cloude came downe and stoode at the doore and he spake with Moyses † al they beholding that the piller of the cloud stoode at the doore of the Tabernacle And they stoode and adored at the doores of their tabernacles † And our Lord spake vnto Moyses face to face as a man is wont to speake to his frend And when he returned into the campe his minister Iosue the sōne of Nun a yong man departed not from the Tabernacle † And Moyses said to our Lord Thou commandest me to leade forth this people and doest not shew me whom thou wilt send with me especially wheras thou hast said I know thee by name and thou hast found grace in my sight † If therfore I haue found grace in thy sight shew me thy face that I may know thee and may find grace before thine eyes looke vpon thy people this nation † And our Lord said My face shal goe before thee and I wil giue thee rest † And Moyses sayd If thy selfe doest not goe before bring vs not out of this place † For whereby shal we be able to know I and thy people that we haue found grace in thy sight vnles thou walke with vs that we may be glorified of al peoples that dwel vpon the earth † And our Lord said to Moyses This word also which thou hast spoken wil I doe for thou hast found grace before me and thy selfe I haue knowen by name † Who said Shew me thy glorie † He answered I wil shew thee al good and wil cal in the name of the Lord before thee and I wil haue mercie on whom I wil and I wil be merciful to whom it shal please me † And againe he sayd Thou canst not see my face for man shal not see me and liue † And againe Behold quoth he there is a place with me and thou shalt stand vpon the rocke † And when my glorie shal passe I wil sette thee in a hole of the rocke and protect thee with my right hand vntil I passe † and I wil take away my hand and thou shalt see my backe-partes but my face thou canst not see CHAP. XXXIIII Moyses goeth againe into Mount Sinai vvith new tables praying for the people 10. to whom God promiseth to giue possession of the Land 12. Prohibiteth al association vvith the Gentiles for feare of Idolatrie 18. geueth precepts concerning the first borne the Sabbath and other feastes 28. After fourtie dayes fast Moyses returneth to the people with the commandements and his face appearing horned he couereth it whensoeuer he speaketh to the people AND after this he said Cut thee two tables of stone like vnto the former and I wil write vpon them the wordes which the tables had which thou hast broken † Be readie in the morning that thou maiest forwith go vp into the mount Sinai and thou shalt stand with me vpon the toppe of the mount † Let no man go vp with thee neither let anie man be sene throughout the whole mount the oxen also and the sheepe let them not feede ouer against † He cut out therfore two tables of stone such as had bene before and rising very early he went vp into mount Sinai as our Lord had commanded him carying with him the tables † And when our Lord was descended in a cloude Moyses stoode with him calling vpon the name of our Lord. † Who passing before him he said Dominatour Lord God merciful and clement patient and of much compassion and true † Which keepest mercie vnto thousandes which takest away iniquitie and wicked factes and sinnes and no man of him selfe is innocent before thee Which doest render the iniquitie of the fathers to the children and to the nephewes vnto the third and fourth generation † And Moyses making hast bowed flatte vnto the earth and adoring † he said If I haue found grace in thy sight o Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt goe with vs for it is a stiffe necked people and take away our iniquities and sinnes and possesse vs. † Our Lord answered I wil make a couenant in the sight of al I wil do signes that were neuer sene vpon the earth nor in anie nations that this people may see in the middes of whom thou art the terrible worke of the Lord which I wil doe † Obserue al thinges which this day I command thee I my self wil cast out before thy face the Amorrheite and Chananeite and Hetheite the Pherezeite also and Heueite and Iebuseite † Beware thou neuer ioyne amitie with the inhabitants of that land which may be thy ruine † but destroy their altars breake their statues and cut downe their groues † adore not a strange God The Lord his name is Ielouse God is an emulatour † Enter no traffick with the men of those regions lest when they haue fornicated with
this water the third day and the seuenth and so shal be cleansed If he were not sprinkled the third day the seuenth day he can not be clensed † Euerie one that toucheth the dead corps of mans soule and is not sprinkled with this commistion shal pollute the tabernacle of the Lord and shal perish out of Israel because he was not sprinkled with the water of expiation he shal be vncleane and his filthinesse shal remaine vpon him † This is the law of the man that dieth in a tabernacle Al that enter into his tent and al the vessel that are there shal be polluted seuen daies † The vessel that hath no couer nor bynding ouer it shal be vncleane † If any man in the field touch the corps of a man that was slaine or that died of himself or his bone or graue he shal be vncleane seuen daies † And they shal take of the ashes of combustion and of sinne and shal powre liuing water vpon them into a vessel † in the which when a man that is cleane hath dipped hyssope he shal sprinkle therwith al the tent and al the implementes and the men polluted with such contagion † and in this maner he that is cleane shal purge the vncleane the third and seuenth day And being expiated the senenth day he shal wash both himself and his garmentes and be vncleane vntil euening † If anie man be not expiated after this rite his soule shal perish out of the middes of the Church because he hath polluted the Lordes Sanctuarie and is not sprinkled with water of lustration † This precept shal be an ordinance for euer He also that sprinkleth the waters shal wash his garmentes Euerie one that toucheth the waters of expiation shal be vncleane vntil euen † Whatsoeuer he toucheth that is vncleane he shal make it vncleane and the soule that toucheth anie of these thinges shal be vncleane vntil euen CHAP. XX. ari● the sister of Moyses dieth 2. The people murmure for lack of water 7. Moys●s and Aaron being commanded to draw some out of a rock do it doutfully 12. and for the same are foretold that they shal die in the desert 14. Not obtaining licence to passe through Edom 22. they come into Mount Hor where Eleazar is ordained hiegh Priest Aaron dieth and is mourned by the people thirtie daie AND the children of Israel and al the multitude came into the desert Sin the first moneth and the people abode in Cades And Marie died there and was buried in the same place † And when the people lacked water they came together against Moyses and Aaron † and being turned into sedition said Would God we had perished among our brethren before our Lord. † Why haue you brought forth the Church of our Lord into the wildernesse that both we and our cattel should die † Why did you make vs ascend out of Aegypt and haue brought vs into this exceding naughtie place which can not be sowed which bringeth forth neither figge nor vines nor pomegranates moreouer also hath no water for to drinke † And Moyses and Aaron the multitude being dismissed entring into the tabernacle of couenant fel flatte vpon the ground and cried to our Lord and said Lord God heare the crie of this people and open vnto them thy treasure the fountaine of liuing water that being satisfied their murmuring may cease And the glorie of our Lord appeared ouer them † And our Lord spake to Moyses saying † Take the rodde and assemble the people together thou and Aaron thy brother and speake to the rocke before them and it shal geue waters And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rocke al the multitude shal drinke and their cattel † Moyses therfore tooke the rodde which was in the sight of our Lord as he commanded him † the multitude being assembled before the rocke and he said to them Heare ye rebellious and incredulous Can we out of this rocke bring you forth water † And when Moyses had lifted vp his hand stricking the rocke twise with the rodde there came forth great plentie of water so that the people drunke and their cattel † And our Lord said to Moyses and Aaron Because you haue not beleued me to sanctifie me before the children of Israel you shal not bring in these peoples into the land which I wil geue them † This is the water of contradiction where the children of Israel quarelled against our Lord and he was sanctified in them † In the meane time Moyses sent messengers from Cades to the King of Edom which should say Thus thy brother Israel biddeth vs to say Thou knowest al the labour that hath taken vs † in what maner our fathers went downe into Aegypt and there we dwelt a great time and the Aegyptians afflicted vs and our fathers † and in what maner we cried to our Lord and he heard vs and sent an Angel that hath brought vs out of Aegypt Loe being presently in the citie of Cades which is in thy vttermost borders † we besech thee that we may haue licence to passe through thy countrie We wil not goe through the fieldes not through the vineyardes we wil not drinke the waters of thy welles but we wil goe the common high way declining neither to the right hand nor to the left til we be past thy borders † To whom Edom answered Thou shalt not passe by me otherwise I wil come armed against thee † And the children of Israel said We wil goe by the beaten way and if we and the cattel drinke thy waters we wil geue thee that which is iust there shal be no difficultie in the price only let vs passe speedely † But he answered Thou shalt not passe And immediatly he came forth to meete them with an infinitie multitude and a strong hand † neither would he condescend to them desiring to grant them passage through his borders For the which cause Israel turned an other way from him † And when they had remoued the campe from Cades they came into the mountaine Hor which is in the borders of the land of Edom † Where our Lord spake to Moyses † Let Aaron sayeth he goe to his people for he shal not enter to the Land which I haue geuen the children of Israel for that he was incredulous to my mouth at the Waters of contradiction † Take Aaron and his sonne with him and thou shalt bring them into the mountaine Hor. † And when thou hast vnuested the father of his vesture thou shalt reuest therewith Eleazar his sonne Aaron shal be gathered and die there † Moyses did as our Lord had commanded and they went vp into the mountaine Hor before al the multitude † And when he had spoyled Aaron of his vestimentes be reuested Eleazar his sonne with them † After that he was dead in the toppe of the mountaine he went downe with Eleazar † And al the multitude seeing that Aaron
the Land which the Lord your God wil geue you that you may haue and possesse it † See therfore that you fulfil the ceremonies and iudgementes which I shal sette this day in your sight CHAP. XII Al idolatrie and whatsoeuer apperteineth therto must be destroyed 5. Sacrifices tithes and donaries must be offered in the special place 15. Eating flesh they must not eate the bloud 29. In no case to imitate the idolatrie of gentiles THESE are the preceptes and iudgementes that you must do in the Land which the Lord God of thy fathers wil geue thee to possesse it al the daies that thou shalt goe vpon the earth † Subuert al places wherein the nations which you shal possesse worshipped their goddes vpon the high mountaines and hilles and vnder euerie tree ful of leaues † Ouerthrow their altares and breake their statues their groues burne with fire and their Idols hewe al to peeces destroy their names out of those places † You shal not doe so to the Lord your God † but to the place which the Lord your God hath chosen of al your tribes to put his name there and to dwel in it shal you come † and shal offer in that place your holocaustes and victimes the tithes and first fruites of your handes and your vowes and donaries the first borne of your oxen and sheepe † And you shal eate there in the sight of the Lord your God and you shal reioyce in al thinges whereunto you shal put your hand you and your house wherein the Lord your God hath blessed you † You shal not doe there the thinges that we doe here this day euerie man that which seemeth good to him self † For vntil this present time you are not come to rest and to the possession which the Lord your God wil geue you † You shal passe ouer Iordan and shal dwel in the Land which the Lord your God wil geue you that you may haue rest from al enemies round about and may dwel without al feare † in the place which the Lord your God shal choose that his name may be therin Thither shal you bring al the thinges that I command you holocaustes and hostes and tithes and the first fruites of your handes and whatsoeuer is the principal in the giftes that you shal vowe to our Lord. † There shal you feaste before the Lord your God you and your sonnes and daughters men seruantes and wemen seruantes and the Leuite that dwelleth in your cities for he hath no other part and possession among you † Beware thou offer not thy holocaustes in euerie place that thou shalt see † but in that which our Lord shal choose in one of thy tribes shalt thou offer hostes and shalt doe what thinges soeuer I command thee † But if thou wilt eate and the eating of flesh delight thee kil and eate according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath geuen thee in thy cities whether it be vncleane that is to say blemished and feeble or cleane that is to say sound and without blemish such as is lawful to be offered as the doa and the hart shalt thou eate it † only without eating of the bloud which thou shalt power out vpon the earth as water † Thou canst not eate in thy townes the tithe of thy corne and wine and oyle the first borne of thy heardes and cattel and al thinges that thou vowest and that thou wilt offer voluntarily and the first fruites of thy handes † but before the Lord thy God shalt thou eate them in the place which the Lord thy God shal choose thou and thy sonne and thy daughter and man seruant and woman seruant and the Leuite that dwelleth in thy cities and thou shalt reioyce and be refreshed before the Lord thy God in al thinges whereunto thou shalt extend thy hand † Take heede thou forsake not the Leuite al the time that thou liuest in the land † When the Lord thy God shal haue dilated thy borders as he hath spoken to thee and thou wilt eate the flesh that thy soule desireth † and if the place be farre of which the Lord thy God shal choose that his name may be there thou shalt kil of the heardes and cattel which thou hast as I haue commanded thee and shalt eate in thy townes as it pleaseth thee † As the doa is eaten and the hart so shalt thou eate them both the cleane and vncleane shal eate in common † This onlie beware that thou eate not the bloud for their bloud is for the soule and therfore thou must not eate the soule with the flesh † but vpon the earth thou shalt power it as water † that it may be wel with thee and thy children after thee when thou shalt doe that which pleaseth in the sight of our Lord. † But the thinges which thou hast sanctified and vowed to our Lord thou shalt take vp and shalt come to the place which our Lord shal choose † and shalt offer thy oblations the flesh and the bloud vpon the altar of the Lord thy God the bloud of thy hostes thou shalt power on the altar and the flesh thy self shalt eate † Obserue and heare al thinges that I command thee that it may be wel with thee and thy children after thee for euer when thou shalt doe that which is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God † When the Lord thy God shal haue destroyed before thy face the nations that thou entrest in to possesse and thou shalt possesse them and dwel in their land † beware lest thou imitate them after they be subuerted at thy entring in and thou require their ceremonies saying As these nations haue worshipped their goddes so wil I also worshippe † Thou shalt not doe in like maner to the Lord thy God For al the abominations that our Lord doeth abhorre haue they done to their goddes offering their sonnes and daughters and burning them with fyre † What I command thee that onlie doe to our Lord neither adde any thing nor diminish ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 32 That only do to our Lord. VVheras the Gentiles offered their sonnes and daughters v. 31. and other abominable sacrifices to Idols God commandeth his people to offer those things only which are prescribed by the law and neither to imolate anie other thing nor exclude anie thing appointed by the same law for sacrifice As for other preceptes it is likewise forbid to adde or diminish anie thing that may corrupt the law but was euer lawful for Superiors to adde more preceptes agreable and not contrarie to the former So King Dauid established a new law that such as stayed with the baggage should haue like portion of the praye with those that fought in battel 1. Reg. 30. And our Sauiour by his presence Ioan 10 approued the feast of dedication instituted long after Moyses law 1. Machab 4. CHAP. XIII False Prophets must be slaine
6. how nere soeuer they be in kinred or freindshipe 12. The whole citie that shal permite false doctrin must be vtterly destroyed men beastes and al moueables and neuer be built againe IF there rise in the middes of thee a prophete or one that saieth he hath seene a dreame and foretel a signe and a wonder † and it come to passe which he spake and he say to thee Let vs goe and folow strange goddes which thou knowest not and let vs serue them † thou shalt not heare the wordes of that prophete or dreamer for the Lord your God tempteth you that it may appeare whether you loue him or no with al your hart and with al your soule † Folow the Lord your God and feare him and keepe his commandementes and heare his voice him you shal serue and to him you shal cleaue † And that prophete or forget of dreames shal be slaine because he spake that he might auert you from the Lord your God which brought you out of the Land of Aegypt and redemed you from the house of seruitude that he might make thee to erre from the way that the Lord thy God commanded thee and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee † If thy brother the sonne of thy mother or thy sonne or daughter or thy wife that is in thy bosome or thy freind whom thou louest as thy soule wil perswade thee secretly saying Let vs goe and serue strange goddes which thou knowest not nor thy fathers † of al nations round about that be nigh or farre from the beginning vnto the end of the earth † consent not to him nor heare him neither let thyne eie spare him to pitie and hide him † but forthwith thou shalt kil him let thy hand be first vpon him and after thee al the people lay hand on him † With stones shal he be stoned to death because he would haue withdrawen thee from the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt from the house of seruitude † that al Israel hearing may feare and may doe no more any thing like to this † If in one of thy cities which the Lord thy God shal geue thee to inhabite thou heare some say † There are gone forth children of Belial out of the middes of thee and haue auerted the inhabitants of their citie and haue said Let vs goe and serue strange goddes which you know not † inquire carefully and diligently the truth of the thing being looked into if thou finde it certaine that is said and that this abomination is in act committed † thou shalt forthwith strike the inhabitantes of that citie in the edge of the sworde and shalt destroy it and al thinges that are in it vnto the very beastes † What stuffe also soeuer there is thou shalt gather together in the middes of the streares therof and shalt burne it with the citie it selfe so that thou consume al thinges to the Lord thy God and it be a heape for euer it shal be built no more † and there shal nothing sticke in thy hand of that anathema that our Lord may be turned from the wrath of his furie and may haue mercie on thee and multiplie thee as he sware to thy fathers † when thou shalt heare the voice of the Lord thy God keeping al his preceptes which I command thee this day that thou mayest doe that which is pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God CHAP. XIIII Gentiles maner of mourning for the dead is prohibited 3. Likewise to eate things vncleane with mention of certaine cleane and vncleane beastes 9. fishes 11. and birdes 21. Also preceptes of pietie clemencie paying tithes first fruites 27. nourishing of Leuites strangers orphanes and widowes BE YE the children of the Lord your God you shal not cutte your selues nor make bauldnes for the dead † because thou art a holie people to the Lord thy God and he chose thee to be his peculiar people of al nattions that are vpon the earth † Eate not the thinges that are vncleane † This is the beast that you ought to eate The oxe and the sheepe and the goate † the hart and the doa the buffle the chamois the pygargue the wilde beefe the cameloparde † Euerie beast that diuideth the hoofe in two partes and cheweth the cudde shal you eate † But of them that chew the cudde and diuide not the hoofe these you shal not eate as the camel the hare the cherogril because they chew the cudde and diuide not the hoofe they shal be vncleane to you † The swine also because it diuideth the hoof and cheweth not the cudde shal be vncleane their flesh you shal not eate and their carcasses you shal not touche † These shal you eate of al that abide in the waters Such as haue finnes and scales eate † them that are without finnes and scales eate not because they are vncleane † Al birdes that are cleane eate † The vncleane eate not to witte the eagle and the grype and the osprey † the ringtaile and the vulture and kite according to their kinde † and al of the rauens kinde † and the ostriche and the owle and the sterne and the hawke according to his kinde † the herodian and the swanne and the stroke † and the diuer the porphyrion and nightcrow † the onocratal and the charadrion euerie one in their kinde the lapwing also and the batte † And al that creepeth and hath litle winges shal be vncleane and shal not be eaten † Al that is cleane eate † But whatsoeuer is dead of it selfe eate not therof To the stranger that is within thy gates geue it to eate or sel it to him because thou art the holie people of our Lord thy God Thou shalt not boyle a kidde in the milke of his damme † The tenth part thou shalt seperate of al thy fruites that spring in the earth euerie yeare † and thou shalt eate in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose that his name may be inuocated therin the tithe of thy corne and wine and oile and the first borne of thy heardes and sheepe that thou mayest lerne to feare our Lord thy God at al time † But when the way and the place which our Lord thy God shal choose are farre and he hath blessed thee and thou canst not carie al these thinges thither † thou shalt sel and bring al into a price and shalt carie it in thy hand and shalt goe to the place which our Lord thy God shal choose † and thou shalt buy with the same money whatsoeuer pleaseth thee either of heardes or of sheepe wine also and sicere and al that thy soule desireth and thou shalt eate before our Lord thy God and shalt feast thou and thy house † and the Leuite that is within thy gates beware thou forsake him not because he hath no other part in
vvorkes Mat. 23. And S. Iohn ascribeth the true sentence geuen by Caiphas in the councel to his office of High Priest saying Ioan. 11. He said not this of him selfe but being the high priest of that yeare he prophecied that IESVS should die for the nation and to gather into one the children of God VVhere the high priest by vertue and priuilege of his office vttered the truth which him selfe neither meant nor vnderstood And this happened when the Law and Priesthood of the Iewes was to decline geue place to Christs new ordinance and therfore no doubt God euer directed the sentence of the high Priest and most specially now Christ preserueth the Apostolique See from error in faith and in general decrees touching manners yea though the chiefe visible Iudge were as wicked as Caiphas And therfore the Protestantes euasion is friuolous limiting the priests sentence to binde the subiectes so long as he is the true minister of God and pronounceth according to his vvord For except God assisted him that he should pronounce according to his word and so al men rest satisfied submitting them selues to his sentence the controuersie should be endles and this consistorie nothing worth but stil be new examinations and new iudgementes whether the former were according to Gods word or no. 12. He that shal be proude This also conuinceth that al were bound to accept of the high priests sentence the law condemning him of pride that refused to obey the commandment of the Priest vvhich at that time ministred to our Lord and for his disobedience punishing him with death CHAP. XVIII In steed of other inheritance Priesies and Leuites haue prouision by Sacrifices and oblations 9. Al superstition to be auoided 15. Perpetuitie of prophetes and finally one special PROPHET towit CHRIST is promised 20. False prophetes must be slaine THE priestes and Leuites and al that are of the same tribe shal haue no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israel because they shal eate the sacrifices of our Lord and his oblations † and nothing els shal they receiue of the possession of their brethren for our Lord him selfe is their inheritance as he hath spoken to them † This shal be the right of the priestes from the people and from them that offer victimes whether they immolate oxe or sheepe they shal geue to the priest the shoulder and the mawe † the first fruites of corne of wine and oile and a part of the woolle of their sheepe shearing † For him hath our Lord chosen of al thy tribes that he might stand and minister to our Lord he and his sonnes for euer † If a Leuite goe out of one of thy cities of al Israel in the which he dwelleth and would come desiring the place which our Lord shal choose † he shal minister in the name of our Lord his God as al his brethren the Leuites that shal stand at that time before our Lord. † He shal receiue the same portion of meates that the rest doe beside that which in his owne citie is dew to him by succession from his fathers † When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee beware thou be not willing to imitate the abominations of those nations † Neither let there be found in thee any that shal expiate his sonne or daughter making them to passe through the fyre or that demandeth of southsayers and obserueth dreames and diuinations neither let there be a sorcerer † nor inchanter nor that consulteth with pithone or diuiners and seeketh the truth of the dead † for al these thinges out Lord abhorreth and for these abominations wil he destroy them at thy entring in † thou shalt be perfect and without spotte with our Lord thy God † These nations whose land thou shalt possesse heare southsayers and diuiners but thou art otherwise instructed of our Lord thy God † “ A PROPHET of thy nation and of thy brethren like vnto me wil our Lord thy God raise vp to thee him thou shalt heare † as thou didst request of our Lord thy God in Horeb when the assemblie was gathered and saidst I wil no more heare the voice of our Lord my God and this exceding great fire I wil see no more lest I die † And our Lord said to mie They haue spoken al thinges wel † A prophete wil I rayse vp to them out of the middes of their brethren like to thee and I wil put my wordes in his mouth and he shal speake al thinges that I shal command him † but he that wil not heare his wordes which he shal speake in my name I wil be the reuenger † And the prophet that being depraued with arrogancie wil speake in my name the thinges that I did not command him to say or in the name of strange goddes shal be slaine † And if in secrete cogitation thou answer How shal I vnderstand the word that our Lord spake not † This signe thou shalt haue That which the same prophete foretelleth in the name of the Lord and cometh not to passe that our Lord hath not spoken but by the arrogancie of his minde the prophet hath forged it and therfore thou shalt not feare him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII 15. A PROPHET of thy nation Amongst other places this plainly proueth that the same wordes in holie Scripture may haue diuers literal senses For first the coherence of the text sheweth that God here promised to geue his people an other extraordinarie prophet after Moyses death of their owne nation as wel to take away occasion of seeking to southsayers diuiners and other prophane prophetes of false goddes strictly forbidden in the wordes going immediatly before as in approbation of their conuenient desire mentioned in the wordes folowing to heare Gods wil not by himself nor by an Angel but by Moyses who was now shortly to be taken from them And so this promise was first performed in Iosue succeding next after Moyses in gouernment And as neede required God ceassed not to send more prophetes besides their ordinarie Priests Againe this place is also vnderstood of Christ our Sauiour chief Prophete and master of al prophetes S Peter so expounding it Act. 3. v. 22. 23. CHAP. XIX Certaine cities of refuge must be assigned for casual manslaughter 11. wilful murther punished by death without remission 15. so it be conuinced by two or three witnesses 16. False witnesses punished with the paine which the crime obiected deserueth VVHEN our Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations whose land he wil deliuer to thee and thou doest possesse it and dwellest in the cities and houses therof † three cities shalt thou separate to thee in the middes of the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in possession † preparing diligently the way and thou shalt diuide the whole prouince of thy Land equally into three partes that he which for murder is a fugitiue may haue
couragious men † Galaad rested beyond Iordan and Dan gaue him self to shippes Aser dwelt in the sea shore and abode in hauens † But Zabulon and Nepthali offered their liues to death in their countrie of Merome † The kinges came and fought the kinges of Chanaan fought in Thanac besides the waters of Mageddo and yet going a praying they tooke nothing † From heauen they fought against them the starres remayning in their order and course fought against Sisara † The torrent of Cison drew their carcasses the torrent of Cadumim the torrent of Cison my soule tread downe the strong ones † The hoofes of the horses fel of the strongest of the enemies fleeing violently and falling downe headlong † Curse ye the land of Meroz said the Angel of our Lord Curse the inhabitantes therof because they came not to help our Lord to aide his most mightie ones † Blessed among wemen be Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite and blessed be she in her tabernacle † To him that asked water she gaue milke and in the phial of princes she offered butter † Her left hand she put to the maile and her right hand to the smithes hammer and stroke Sisara seeking in his head a place for the wound and piercing valiantly through his temple † Betwen her feete he fel he failed and died he was rowled before her feete and he lay without life and miserable † Looking through a window his mother howled she spake out of a higher chamber Why lingereth his chariote to come backe Wherfore are the feete of his waggans slow † One wiser then the rest of his wiues answered these wordes to her mother in law † Peraduenture now he diuideth the spoyles and the fayrest of the wemen is chosen for him garmentes of sundrie colours are deliuered to Sisara for a praye and diuerse furniture is laid together to adorne the neckes † So perish al thine enemies O Lord but they that loue thee as the Sunne shineth in his rysing so let them glitter † And the Land rested for fourtie yeares CHAP. CHAP. VI. The people falling againe to sinne are oppressed by the Madianites 12. An Angel appearing to Gedeon sendeth him to deliuer Israel 17. confirming his mission by miracle 25. So he first destroyeth Baals altar 34. then gathereth an armie against Idolaters 36. and is assured againe of Gods protection by two miracles in a fleec● of woolle AND the children of Israel did euil in the sight of our Lord who deliuered them into the hand of Madian seuen yeares † they were sore oppressed of them And they made them selues dennes and caues in the mountaines and very wel fensed places to resist † And when Israel had sowen Madian came vp and Amalec and the rest of the East nations † and pitching their tentes by them wasted al thinges as they were in the blade vnto the entring of Gaza and they left nothing at al in Israel that perteyned to mans life not sheepe not oxen not asses † For they and al their flockes came with their tabernacles and like vnto locustes filled al places an inumerable multitude of men and of camels wasting whatsoeuer they touched † And Israel was sore humbled in the sight of Madian † And he cried to our Lord desiring helpe against the Madianites † who sent vnto them a man that was a prophet and he spake Thus sayeth our Lord the God of Israel I made you to come vp out of Aegypt and brought you out of the house of seruitude † and deliuered you out of the handes of the Aegyptians and of al the enemies that afflicted you and I cast them out at your entring and deliuered you their Land † And I said I the Lord your God feare not the goddes of the Amorrheites in whose land you dwel And you would not heare my voice † And an Angel of our lord came and sate vnder an oke that was in Ephra and perteyned to Ioas the father of the familie of Ezri And when Gedeon his sonne did thresh and purge wheate in a winepresse to flee Madian † the Angel of our Lord appeared to him and said Our Lord be with thee ô most valiant of men † And Gedeon said to him I besech thee my Lord if our Lord be with vs why hane these euils apprehended vs where are his meruelous workes which our fathers haue told vs and said Out of Aegypt did our Lord bring vs but now our Lord hath forsaken vs and deliuered vs into the hande of Madian † And our Lord looked to ward him and said Goe in this thy strength and thou shalt deliuer Israel out of the hand of Madian know that I haue sent thee † Who answering said I besech thee my Lord wherein shal I deliuer Israel behold my familie is the meanest in Manasses and I the least in my fathers house † And our Lord said to him I wil be with thee and thou shalt strike Madian as it were one man † And he said If I haue found quoth he grace before thee geue me a signe that it is thou which speakest to me † Neither depart thou hence til I returne to thee bringing a sacrifice and offering to thee Who answered I wil tarie thy coming † Gedeon therfore went in and boyled a kidde and of a bushel of flowre baked vnleuened loaues and putting the flesh in a basket and the broth of the flesh into a potte he caried al vnder the oke and offered to him † To whom the Angel of our Lord said Take the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and put them vpon that rocke and powre out the broth theron And when he had done † the Angel of our Lord stretched forth the tippe of the rodde which he held in his hand and touched the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and there arose a fyre from the rocke and consumed the flesh and the leuened loaues and the Angel of our Lord vanished from his eies † And Gedeon seeing that it was the Angel of our Lord said Alas my Lord God that I haue seene the Angel our Lord face to face † And our Lord said to him Peace be with thee feare not thou shalt not die † And Gedeon built there an altar to our Lord and called it our Lords peace vntil this present day And when he was yet in Ephra which is of the familie of Ezri † that night our Lord said to him Take a bullocke of thy fathers and an other bullocke of seuen yeares and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which is thy fathers and cut downe the groue that is about the altar † and thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God in the toppe of this rocke whereupon thou didst lay the sacrifice before and thou shalt take the second bullocke and shalt offer an holocauste vpon a pile of the wood which thou shalt ●nt downe out of the groue † Gedeon therfore taking to him ten men of his seruantes did
† There was also an other yong man of Bethelem Iuda of the kinred therof and he was a Leuite and dwelt there † And going forth out of the citie of Bethelehem he would seiourne wheresoeuer he should find it comodious for him And when he was come into mount Ephraim making his iourney and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas † he was demanded of him whence he came Who answered I am a Leuite of Bethlehem Iuda and I goe to dwel where I shal be able and shal perceiue it to be profitable for me † And Michas said Abide with me and be to me a father and a priest and I wil geue thee euerie yeare tenne siluer peeces and duble liuerie and the thinges that be necessarie for victual † He was content and abode with the man and was vnto him as one of his sonnes † And Michas filled his hand and had the yong man for a priest with him saying † Now I know that God wil do me good hauing a priest of the Leuitical kinde CHAP. XVIII First sending spie to discouer 11 six hundred armed men of the tribe of Dan goe to seeke possessions 14. By the way they take the idol and idolatrical priest from Michas 27. surprise the towne of Lais 30. and there set vp idolatrie IN those dayes there was not a king in Israel and the tribe of Dan sought possession for it selfe that it might dwel therein for vntil that day it had not receiued a lotte among the other tribes † Therfore the children of Dan sent fiue men of their stocke and familie most valiant from Saraa and Esthaol that they might view the land and diligently behold it and they said to them Goe and consider the land Who going forward when they were come into mount Ephraim and had entered into the house of Michas they rested there † and knowing the voice of the yong man the Leuite and vsing his lodging they said to him Who brought thee hither What doest thou here For what cause wouldest thou come hither † Who answered them These and these thinges hath Michas done to me hath hyred me for wages to be his priest † And they desired him that he would consult the Lord that they might know whether they should goe on a prosperous iourney and the thing should haue effect † Who answered them Goe in peace The Lord regardeth your way and the iourney that you goe † The fiue men therfore going came to Lais they saw the people dwelling in it without any feare according to the custome of the Sidonians secure and quiet no man at al resisting them of greate riches and separated farre from Sidon and from al men † And returning to their brethren in Saraa and Estaol and asking what they had done they answered them † Arise and let vs goe vp to them for we haue seene the Land exceding rich and plentiful neglect not slacke not let vs goe and possesse it it wil be no labour † We shal enter vnto them being secure into a most large countrie and our Lord wil deliuer to vs the place wherein is penurie of nothing of those thinges that grow on the earth † There departed therfore from the kinred of Dan that is to say from Saraa and Esthaol six hundred men furnished with warlike armour † and going vp they taried in Cariathiarim of Iuda which place from that time tooke the name of the Tentes of Dan and it is at the backe of Cariathiarim † Thence they passed into mount Ephraim And when they were come to the house of Michas † the fiue men that before had been sent to view the Land of Lais said to the rest of their brethren You know that in these houses there is an Ephod and Theraphim and a grauen and molten god See what pleaseth you † And when they had turned a litle aside they entred into the house of the yong man the Leuite which was in the house of Michas and saluted him with peaceable wordes † And the six hundred men so as they were armed stoode before the doore † But they that were entred the house of the yong man endeuoured to take away the grauen the Ephod and the idols and molten god and thepriest stoode before the doore the six hundred most valiant men expecting not farre of † They therfore that were entred tooke the grauen the Ephod the theraphim and molten god To whom the priest said What doe you † To whom they answered Hold thy peace and put thy finger vpon thy mouth and come with vs that we may haue thee for a father and a priest Whether is better for thee that thou be a priest in the house of one man or in one tribe and familie in Israel † Which when he had heard he agreed to their wordes and tooke the Ephod and idols and grauen god and departed with them † Who when they went forward and had made the children and the cattel to goe before them and al that was percious † and were now farre from the house of Michas the men that dwelt in the house of Michas crying out together folowed † and at their backe began to shoute Who looking backe said to Michas What meanest thou Why doest thou crie † Who answered My Goddes which I made me you haue taken away and the priest and al that I haue and doe you say What aileth thee † And the children of Dan said to him Beware thou speake no more vnto vs and there come vnto thee men prouoked in mind and thou with al thy house perish † And so they went on their iourney begone But Michas seing that they were stronger then he returned into his house † And the six hundred men tooke the priest and the thinges which we spake of before and came into Lais to a people that was quiet and secure and stroke them in the edge of the sword and the citie they deliuered to fyre † no man at al bringing them succour for that they dwelt farre from Sidon and had with no men anie societie and affayres And the citie was situated in the countrie of Rohob which building agayne they dwelt in it † calling the name of the citie Dan according to the name of their father whom Israel had begotten which before was called Lais. † And they sette vp to them selues the grauen idol and Ionathan the sonne of Gerson the sonne of Moyses and his sonnes priestes in the tribe of Dan vntil the day of their captiuitie † And the idol of Michas remayned with them al the time that the house of God was in Silo. In those daies there was not a king in Israel CHAP. XIX A Leuite bringing homeward his reconciled wife 15. at Gabaa in the tribe of Beniamin hardly getteth lodging 25. his wife is there vilanously abused by wicked men and in the morning found dead 29. whereupon her husband cutteth her bodie and sendeth peeces to euerie
men dying They fel and were ouerthrowen on the east side of the citie of Gabaa † And there were that were slaine in the same place eightene thousand men al most valiant warryers † Which when they had seene that were remayning of Beniamín they fled into the wildernes and went on to the rocke the name wherof is Remmon In that flight also stragling and going diuers waies they slew fiue thousand men And whereas they went farder they pursewed them and slew also other two thousand † And so it came to passe that al which were slaine of Beniamin in diuerse places were fiue and twentie thousand one hundred fighting men most prompt to warres † There remayned therfore of al the number of Beniamin that could escape and flee into the wildernes six hundred men and they abode in the Rocke Remmon foure monethes † But the children of Israel retyring stroke al the remaines of the citie with the sword from men euen to beastes and al the cities and villages of Beniamin the deuouring flame did consume CHAP. XXI The tribe of Beniamin is repayred 8. by foure hundred virgins reserued in the slaughter of Iabes Galaad 19. and by other virgins taken that come forth of Silo to daunce THE children of Israel sware also in Maspha and said None of vs shal geue of his daughters to the children of Beniamin to wife † And they came al to the house of God in Silo and sitting in his sight vntil euening lifted vp their voice and with great wayling beganne to weepe saying Wherfore ô Lord God of Israel is this euil done in thy people that this day one tribe should be taken away out of vs † And on the morrow rising early they built an altar and offered there holocaustes and pacifique victimes and said † Who hath not ascended in the hoste of our Lord of al the tribes of Israel For they had bound them selues with a great othe when they were in Maspha that they should be slayne which had beene wanting † And the children of Israel being moued with repentance vpon their brother Beniamin beganne to say One tribe is taken away out of Israel † whence shal they take wiues For we haue al sworne in common that we wil not geue our daughters to them † Therfore they said Who is there of al the tribes of Israel that went not vp to our Lord into Maspha And behold the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad were found not to haue bene in that armie † At that time also when they were in Silo none of them was found there † They sent therfore ten thousand the strongest men and commanded them Goe and strike the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad in the edge of the sword as wel their wiues as their litle ones † And this shal be it which you shal obserue Al of the male kinde and wemen that haue knowen men kil ye but the virgins reserue † And there were found of Iabes Galaad foure hundred virgins that knew not mans bedde and they brought them to the campe in Silo into the Land of Chanaan † And they sent messengers to the children of Beniamin that were in Rocke Remmon and commanded them that they should receiue them in peace † And the children of Beniamin came at that time and there were geuen vnto them wiues of the daughters of Iabes Galaad but others they found not which they might geue them in like maner † And al Israel was very sorie and repented for the killing of one tribe out of Israel † And the ancientes said What shal we doe to the rest that haue not taken wiues For al the wemen in Beniamin are dead † And we must very carefully and with great studie prouide that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel † For our owne daughters we can not geue them being bound with an oath and a curse wherby we said Cursed be he that shal geue to Beniamin anie of his daughters to wife And they tooke counsail and said Behold there is an anniuersaire solemnitie of our Lord in Silo which is situate on the North of the citie of Bethel on the East side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem and on the South of the towne of Lebona † And they commanded the children of Beniamin and said Goe and lie hidde in the vineyardes † And when you shal see the daughters of Silo come forth after the maner to lead daunses issue forth sodenly out of the vineyardes and catch of them euerie one his wife and goe into the Land of Beniamin † And when their fathers shal come and their brethren and shal beginne to complaine against you and to chide we wil say to them Haue pittie on them for they tooke them not away by the right of warryers and conquerours but when they desired to receiue them you gaue them not and on your part the fault was committed † And the children of Beniamin did as it had beene commanded them and according to their number they tooke away to them selues of those that ledde the daunses euerie one his wife and they went into their possession building cities and dwelling in them † The children of Israel also returned by their tribes and families into their tabernacles In those daies there was not a King in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him selfe THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF RVTH AMONGST other thinges that happened to the people of Israel in the time of the Iudges this historie of Ruth to witt her coming from Moab her conuersion to true Religion godlie conuersation and mariage with Booz of the tribe of Iuda is recorded as a more principal matter For that not onlie king Dauid but consequently also our SAVIOVR the Redemer of mankind descended from her VVherby was fore signified that as saluation thus proceded from the Gentiles together with the Iewes so the Gentiles are made partakers of the same grace More clerly prophecied as S. Hierom noteth by Isai cap. 16. saying Send forth ô Lord the lambe the Ruler of the earth from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion That is from Ruth the gentile to Hierusalem or rather to the Church This mariage of Ruth came to passe about the time of Abesan Iudge The booke was written as is most probable by Samuel and is diuided into foure chapters whose contentes folow in their places THE BOOKE OF RVTH CHAP. I. By occasion of famine Elimelech of Bethleem going with his wife Noemi and two sonnes into the Land of Moab there dieth 4. His sonnes marrie wiues of that countrie and die without issue 6. Noemi returning homewardes hardly perswadeth one of her daughters in law to part from her 15. The other called Ruth wil needes goe with her professing the same God and Religion 19. So these two arriue in Betheleem IN the dayes of one Iudge when the Iudges ruled there came a famine in the Land And there went a
vnhappie woman and wine and whatsoeuer may inebriate I haue not drunke but I haue powred out my soule in the sight of our Lord. † Account not thy handmaide as one of the daughters of Belial for of the multitude of my sorrow and heauines haue I spoken vntil this present † Then Heli saied to her Goe in peace and the God of Israel geue thee thy petition which thou hast asked him † But she sayd Would God thy handmaide may find grace in thyne eyes And the woman went on her way and did eate and her countenance was no more changed otherwise † And they rose in the morning and adored before our Lord and they returned came into their house to Ramatha And Elcana knew Anna his wife and our Lord remembred her † And it came to passe after a certaine compasse of dayes Anna conceiued bare a sonne and called his name Samuel because she asked him of our Lord. † And Elcana her husband went vp and al her house to immolat vnto our Lord the solemne hoste and his vowe † and Anna went not vp for she sayd to her husband I wil not goe til the infant be weaned and til I may bring him that he may appeare before the sight of our Lord and may remayne there continually † And Elcana her husband sayd to her Doe that which seemeth good to thee and tarie til thou weane him and I pray that our Lord fulfil his word The woman therfore taried and gaue her sonne sucke til she remoued him from the milke † And she brought him with her after she had weaned him with three calues three bushels of meale and a flagon of wine and she brought him to the house of our Lord in Silo. But the childe was yet a litle infant † and they immolated a calfe and offered the childe to Heli. † And Anna said I besech thee my lord thy soule liueth my lord I am that woman which stoode before thee here praying our Lord. † For this childe did I pray and our Lord hath geuen me my petition which I asked him † Therfore I also haue geuen him to our Lord al the daies which he shal liue that he may be applied to our Lord. And they adored our Lord there And Anna prayed and sayd CHAP. II. Anna geueth thankes in a Canticle 11. the sonnes of Heli greuously sinning are reprehended but not duly corected by their father 21. Anna beareth three sonnes more and two daughters 27. Heli is threatned 34. and the death of his two sonnes fortold MY hart hath reioysed in our Lord and my horne is exalted in my God my mouth is dilated vpon myn enemies because I haue ioyed in thy saluation † There is none holie as our Lord is for neither is there an other beside thee and there is none so strong as out God † Doe not multiplie to speake high thinges boasting let old matters depart from your mouth because our Lord is a God of al knowlege and to him cogitations are prepared † The bow of the strong men is ouercome and the weake are girded with strength † They that before were filled haue hyred out them selues for bread and the hungrie are filled vntil the barren woman bare verie manie and she that had manie children was weakened † Our Lord mortifieth and quickeneth bringeth downe to hel and fetcheth backe agayne † Our Lord maketh poore and enricheth humbleth and lifteth vp † He rayseth the needie man from the dust and from the dung he lifteth vp the poore that he may sitte with princes and hold the throne of glorie For the poles of the earth are our Lords and vpon them he hath sette the world † The feete of his Saintes he wil keepe and the impious shal be silent in darknes because in his owne force man shal not be strengthned † Our Lord shal his aduersaries feare and vpon them shal he thunder in the heauens our Lord s●al iudge the endes of the Earth and shal geue empire to his king and shal exalt the horne of his Christ † And Elcana went into Ramatha vnto his house but the childe ministered in the sight of our Lord before the face of Heli the priest † Moreouer the sonnes of Heli were the sonnes of Belial not knowing our Lord † nor the office of priestes to the people but whosoeuer had immolated a victime the seruant of the priest came whiles the flesh was in boyling and had a flesh hooke with three teeth in his hand † and thrust it into the kettle or into the caudron or into the potte or into the panne and al that the flesh hooke brought vp the priest tooke to him selfe so did they to al Israel that came into Silo. † Yea before they burnt the fatte the seruant of the priest came and sayd to him that immolated Geue me flesh that I may boyle it for the priest for I wil not take flesh of thee sodde but raw † And he that immolated sayd to him Let the fatte first be burnt to day according to the maner and take vnto thee how much soeuer thy soule desireth Who answering said to him Not so for thou shalt geue it now or els I wil take it away by force † Therfore the sinne of the yong men was exceding great before our Lord because men detracted from the sacrifice of our Lord. † But Samuel ministred before the face of our Lord a child girded with an ephod of linnen † And his mother made him a litle tunike which she brought vpon the ordinarie daies going vp with her husband to immolate the solemne host † And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife and he saied to him Our Lord render thee seede of this woman for the vsurie that thou hast geuen our Lord. And they went into their place † Our Lord therfore visited Anna and she conceiued and bare three sonnes and two daughters and the childe Samuel was magnified before our Lord. † And Heli was very old and heard al thinges which his sonnes did to al Israel and how they slept with the wemen that wayted at the doore of the tabernacle † and he sayd to them Why doe you these kinde of thinges which I heare very naughtie thinges of al the people † Doe not so my sonnes for it is not a good report which I doe heare that you make the people of our Lord to transgresse † If man shal sinne against man God may be pacified toward him but if a man shal sinne against our Lord who shal pray for him And they heard not the voice of their father because our Lord would kil them † But the childe Samuel prospered and grew and pleased both our Lord and men † And there came a man of God to Heli and said to him Thus ●ayth our Lord Was not I openly reueled to thy fathers house when they were in Aegypt in the house of Pharao † and I chose him of al the tribes
Who is this that said what shal Saul reigne ouer vs Geue vs the men and we wil kil them † And Saul sayd No man shal be killed this day because our Lord this day hath releued Israel † And Samuel said to the people Come and let vs goe into Galgal and let vs renewe there a kingdome † And al the people went into Galgal and there they made Saul king before our Lord in Galgal they immolated there pacifique victimes before our Lord. And Saul reioysed there and al the men of Israel excedingly CHAP. XII Samuel being iustified by the people for his good behauiour 6. chargeth them with ingratitude towardes God 14. admonishing them and shewing by a signe that they offended in demanding a king 20. Exhorteth them now to serue God promiseth to pray for them and forwarneth that they shal receiue as they deserue AND Samuel sayd to al Israel Behold I haue heard your voice according to al thinges which you haue spoken to me and I haue appointed a king ouer you † And now the king goeth before you and I am waxen old and haue gray heares moreouer my sonnes are with you therfore hauing conuersed with you from my youth vntil this day loe I am readie † Speake of me before our Lord and before his Christ whether I haue taken any mans oxe or asse If I haue calumniated any man if I haue oppressed any man if I haue taken gift of any mans hand and I wil contemne that same this day and wil restore it to you † And they said thou hast not calumniated vs nor oppressed vs nor taken ought of any mans hand † And he sayd to them Witnes is our Lord against you and witnes is his Christ in this day that you haue not found any thing in my hand And they said Witnes † And Samuel said to the people Our Lord who made Moyses and Aaron and brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt is present † Now therefore stand that I may contend in iudgement against you before our Lord concerning al the mercies of our Lord which he hath done with you and with your fathers † how Iacob entred into Aegypt and your fathers cried to our Lord and our Lord sent Moyses and Aaron and brought your fathers out of Aegypt and placed them in this place † Who forgat our Lord their God and he deliuered them in the hand of Sisara master of the hoste of Haser and in the hand of the Philisthijmes and in the hand of the king of Moab and they sought against them † But afterward they cried to our Lord and said We haue sinned because we haue forsaken our Lord and haue serued Baalim and Astaroth now therefore deliuer vs from the hand of our enemies and we wil serue thee † And our Lord sent Ierobaal and Badan and Iepte and Samuel and deliuered you from the hand of your enemies round about and you dwelt securely † But you seing that Naas king of the children of Ammon was come against you you said to me Not so but a king shal reigne ouer vs whereas our Lord your God did reigne among you † Now therfore your king is readie whom you haue chosen and desired behold our Lord hath geuen you a king † If you shal feare our Lord and serue him and heare his voice and not exasperat the mouth of our Lord both you and the king which reigneth ouer you shal be folowers of our Lord your God † but if you wil nor heare the voice of our Lord but shal exasperat his wordes the hand of our Lord shal be vpon you and vpon your fathers † But now also stand and see this great thing which our Lord wil doe in your sight † Is it not wheare haruest to day I wil cal vpon our Lord he wil geue * noyses and rayne and you shal know and see that you haue done great euil to your selues in the sight of our Lord desiring a king ouer you † And Samuel cried to our Lord and our Lord gaue noyses and raine in that day † And al the people feared excedingly our Lord and Samuel And al the people said to Samuel Pray for thy seruantes to our Lord thy God that we die not for we haue added euil to al our sinnes that we desired vnto vs a king † And Samuel sayd to the people Feare not you haue done al this euil but yet depart not from the backe of our Lord but serue our Lord in al your hart † And decline not after vaine thinges which shal not profite you nor deliuer you because they are vaine † And our Lord wil not forsake his people for his great name because our Lord hath sworne to make you a people to him self † And farre from me be this sinne in our Lord that I should cease to pray for you and I wil teach you the good and right way † Therefore feare our Lord and serue him in truth and from your whole hart for you haue seene the great workes which he hath done among you † But if you shal perseuer in malice both you and your king shal perish together CHAP. XIII Saul and Ionathas preuaile in battel against the Philisthijms 5. who increasing their forc●s the Isra●lites for fea●e flee away and hid themselues 8. Samuel not coming to the campe Saul presumeth to offer sacrifice 11. for which Samuel reproueth him and declareth that his kingdom shal be translated to an other 17. The Philisthijms oppresse the Israelites and depriue them of armour A CHILD of one yeare was Saul when he began to reigne and two yeares he reigned ouer Israel † And Saul chose to him selfe three thousand of Israel and there were with Saul two thousand in Machmas and in the mount of Bethel and a thousand with Ionathas in Gabaa of Beniamin moreouer the rest of the people he sent backe euerie man into their tabernacles † And Ionathas stroke the garrison of the Philisthijms which was in Gabaa Which when the Philisthijms had heard Saul sounded with the trumpet in al the land saying Let the Hebrewes heare † And al Israel heard this maner of bruite Saul hath striken the garrison of the Philisthijms and Israel tooke courage against the Philisthijms The people therfore cried after Saul in Galgal † And the Philisthims were gathered together to fight against Israel thirtie thousand chariotes and six thousand horsemen and the rest of the common people as the sand which is in the sea shore very much And going vp they camped in Machmas at the East of Bethauen † Which when the men of Israel had seene them selues put in a streict for the people was afflicted they hid them selues in caues and in secrete places in rockes also and in dennes and in cesternes † And the Hebrewes passed Iordan into the Land of Gad and Galaad And when Saul was yet in Galgal al the people was sore afrayd which
now ye children of Iemini wil the sonne of Isai geue to al you fieldes and vineyardes and make al you tribunes centurions † because you haue al conspired against me and there is none that telleth me especially where my sonne also hath entred league with the sonne of Isai There is none of you that pitieth my case neither is there that telleth me for that my sonne hath raised vp my seruant against me lying in waite for me vntil this day † And Doeg the Idumeite which stood by and was the chief among the seruantes of Saul answering I sawe quoth he the sonne of Isai in Nobe with Achimelech the sonne of Achitob the priest † Who consulted our Lord for him and gaue him victuals yea and the sword of Goliath the Philistian he gaue to him † The king therefore sent to cal for Achimelech the priest the sonne of Achitob and al his fathers house the priestes that were in Nobe who came al to the king † And Saul said to Achimelec Heare thou sonne of Achitob Who answered I am readie my Lord. † And Saul said to him Why haue you conspired against me thou and the sonne of Isai and hast geuen him bread and a sword and hast consulted our Lord for him that he might rise vp against me continuing a traitour vntil this day † And Achimelech answering the king said And who amongst al thy seruantes faithful as Dauid and the kings sonne in lawe and going fourth at thy commandmēt and glorious in thy house † Did I beginne this day to consult our Lord for him farre be this from me let not the king suspect such a thing against his seruant in al the house of my father for thy seruant knew not any thing concerning this busines either litle or great † And the king saidy Ding thou shalt dye Achimelec thou and al thy fathers house † And the king said to the curriers that stood about him Turne your selues and kil the priests of our Lord for their hand is with Dauid knowing that he was ●led and they told me not And the kings seruantes would not extend their handes vpon the priests of our Lord. † And the king said to Doeg Turne thou and runne vpon the priests And Doeg the Idumeite being turned tanne vpon the priests and murdered in that day eightie fiue men reuested with an ephod of linnen † And Nobe the citie of the priests he stroke in the edge of the sword men and wemen and children and sucklinges and oxe and asse and shepe in the edge of the sword † But one sonne of Achimelech the sonne of Achitob escaping whose name was Abiathar fled to Dauid † and told him that Saul had slaine the priestes of our Lord. † And Dauid said to Abiathar I knew in that day when Doeg the Idumeit was there without doubt he would tel Saul I am giltie of al the soules of thy father † Abide with me feare not if any man shal seeke my life he shal seeke thy life also and with me thou shal be preserued CHAP. XXIII The citie of Ceila oppugned by the Philistijms is releeued by Dauid 7. Who fearing to be there betrayed 13. fleeth into the desert of Ziph. 16. Ionathas repayreth secretly to him and they confirme againe their former league 19. The Ziphians promise to betray Dauid 27. but Saul leaueth for a while to persecute him being forced to defend the land from the Philistians inuading it AND they told Dauid saying Behold the Philistijms oppugne Ceila and spoyle the barnes † Dauid therefore consulted our Lord saying Shal I goe and strike these Philistians And our Lord sayd to Dauid Goe and thou shalt strike the Philistians and shalt saue Ceila † And the men that were with Dauid sayd to him Behold we resting here in Iurie are afrayd how much more if we shal goe into Ceila against the bandes of the Philistians † Againe therefore Dauid consulted our Lord. Who answering sayd to him Arise and goe into Ceila for I wil deliuer the Philistians in thy hand † Dauid therefore and his men went into Ceila and fought against the Philistians and droue away their beastes and stroke them with a great slaughter and Dauid saued the inhabitantes of Ceila † Moreouer at that time when Abiathar the sonne of Achimelech fled to Dauid into Ceila he went downe hauing with him an ephod † And it was told Saul that Dauid was come into Ceila and Saul sayd Our Lord hath deliuered him into my handes and he is shut vp being entered the citie wherein are gates and lockes † And Saul commanded al the people that they should goe downe into Ceila to fight and beseige Dauid and his men † Which when Dauid vnderstood that Saul secretly prepared euil● against him he sayd to Abiathar the priest Applie the Ephod † And Dauid sayd Lord God of Israel thy seruant hath heard a bruite that Saul determineth to come into Ceila to destroy the citie for me † Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me into his handes and wil Saul come downe as thy seruant hath heard Lord God of Israel tel thy seruant And our Lord sayd He wil come downe † And Dauid said Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me and the men that are with me into the handes of Saul And our Lord sayd They wil deliuer thee † Dauid therefore arose and his men about six hundred and going out of Ceila wandered hither and thither vncertaine and it was told Saul that Dauid was ●led from Ceila and was saued for which cause he dissembled to goe forth † But Dauid abode in the desert in most strong places and he taried in the mount of the desert Ziph in a shadowed hil Saul notwithstanding sought him alwayes and our Lord deliuered him not into his handes † And Dauid saw that Saul was gone forth to seeke his life Moreouer Dauid was in the desert Ziph in a wood † And Ionathas the sonne of Saul arose and went to Dauid into the wood and strengthened his handes in God and sayd to him † Feare not for neither shal the hand of Saul my father finde thee and thou shalt reigne ouer Israel and I shal be second to thee yea and my father knoweth this † Both therefore made a league before our Lord And Dauid abode in the wood but Ionathas returned into his house † And the Zeipheites went vp vnto Saul in Gabaa saying Loe doth not Dauid lye hid with vs in the most safe places of the wood in the Hil Hachila which is on the right hand of the desert † Now therefore as thy soule hath desired come downe it shal be our charge to deliuer him into the kinges handes † And Saul sayd Blessed be ye of our Lord because you haue pitied my case † Goe therefore I pray you and prepare diligently and deale curiously and consider the place where his foote is and who hath seene him there for he thinketh of me that I
compassed it ten cubites going about the lauatorie there were two rewes of chamfered forowed grauinges cast † And it stood vpon twelue oxen of which three looked to the North and three to the West and three to the South and three to the East and the sea was ouer them whose hinder par●●● were al ●id inward † And the thickenes of the lauatorie w●● of ●lr●● c●●●●s and the brimme therof as it were the brimme of a chalice and the leafe of crisped lilie it contayned two thousand bates † And he made ten brasen seete of foure cubites in length euerie foote and foure cubites in bredth and three cubites in height † And the verie worke it selfe of the feete was entergrauen and enterg 〈…〉 betwen the ioyntures † And betwen the litle crownes and the playtes lions and oxen and cherubs and in the ioyntures likewise aboue and vnder the lions and oxen as it were ●●●des of brasse hanging downe † And foure wheeles at euerie foote and axeltrees of brasse and at foure ●ides as it were litle shoulders vnder the lauatorie cast looking one against an other † The mouth also of the lauatorie was inward in the toppe of the head and that which appeared outward was of one cubite al round and together it had one cubite a halfe and in the corners of the pillers were diuers engrauinges and the middle enterpillers square not round † The foure wheeles also which were at the foure corners of a foote ioyned one to an other vnder the foote one wheele had in height a cubite and a halfe † And they were such wheeles as are accustomed to be made in a chariote and their axeltrees and spokes and strakes and naues al cast † For those foure litle shoulders also at euerie corner of one foote were cast out of the foote and ioyned together † And in the toppe of the foote was a certayne roundnes of halfe a cubite so wrought that the lauatorie might be put thereon ha●● the engrauinges therof and diuerse caruinges of it self 〈…〉 graued also in those fielinges which were of brasse and in the corners cherubs and lions and palmetrees as it w●●● 〈◊〉 the similitude of a man standing that they semed not to be engrauen but put to round about † After this maner made he ten feete of one casting and measure like grauing 〈…〉 made also ten lauatories of brasse one lauatorie conteyned fourtie bates and it was of foure cubites also at euerie foote that is ten he put so manie lauatories † And he sette the ten feete fiue on the right side of the temple and fiue on the leaft and the sea ●e put on the right side of the temple against the East toward the South † Hiram therfore made cauldrons and thoueles and litle pottes and perfected al the worke of king Salomon in the temple of our Lord. † Two pyllers and two cordes of the litle heades vpon the litle heades of the pyllers and two litle nettes to couer the two cordes that were ouer the heades of the pyllers † And foure hundred pomegranates in the two nettes two rewes of pomegramates in euerie nette to couer the cordes of the litle heades which were vpon the heades of the pyllers † And tenne feete and tenne lauatories vpon the feete † And one sea and twelue oxen vnder the sea † And cauldrons and shouels and litle pottes Al the vessels that Hiram made to king Salomon in the house of our Lord were of bright latten † In the champayne countrie of Iordan did the king cast those thinges in a clay ground betwen Sacoth and Sarthan † And Salomon placed al the vessel but for the exceding great multitude the brasse could not be weyed † And Salomon made al the vessels in the house of our Lord an altar of gold and a table wherupon the loaues of proposition should be put of gold † and candlestickes of gold fiue on the right hand and fiue on the leaft against the oracle of pure gold and as it were lilie floures and lampes aboue of gold and golden snuffers † and water pottes and fleshehookes and phiales and morters and censars of most pure gold and the ●ndges of doores of the inner Sanctum sanctorum and of the doores of the house of the temple were of gold † And Salomon perfected al the worke that he did in the house of our Lord and brought in the thinges that Dauid his father had sanctified siluer and gold and the vessel and layed them in the treasures of the house of our Lord. CHAP. VIII The arke is brought in and the temple dedicated 10. a glorious cloyvde replenisheth it 14. Salomon prayeth long to God 55. blesseth the people 62. and manie victimes are offered in this solemne festiuitie THEN were gathered together al the ancientes of Israel with the princes of the tribes and the heades of the families of the children of Israel to king Salomon into Ierusalem that they might carrie the Arke of the couenant of our Lord out of the citie of Dauid that is out of Sion † And al Israel assembled to king Salomon in the moneth of Ethanim on a solemne day that is the seuenth moneth † And al the ancientes of Israel came and the priestes tooke the arke † and caried the arke of our Lord and the tabernacle of couenant and al the vessels of the Sanctuarie that were in the tabernacle and the Priestes and the Leuites caried them † And king Salomon and al the multitude of Israel which was assembled vnto him went with him before the arke and they immolated sheepe and oxen without estimation number † And the priestes brought in the arke of the couenant of our Lord into his place into the oracle of the temple into Sanctum sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs † For the cherubs spred their winges ouer the place of the arke and couered the arke and the barres therof aboue † And whereas the barres stood out and the endes of them appeared without in the Sanctuarie before the oracle they appeared no farder outward which also were there vntil this present day † And in the arke there was nothing els but two tables of stone which Moyses put in it in Horeb when our Lord made the couenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the Land of Aegypt † And it came to passe when the priestes were gone out of the Sanctuarie a clowde filled the house of our Lord † and the priestes could not stand and minister for the clowde for the glorie of our Lord had filled the house of our Lord. † Then sayd Salomon Our Lord sayd that he would dwel in a clowde † Building I haue built a house for thy habitation thy most firme throne for euer † And the king turned his face and blessed al the church of Israel for al the church if Israel stood † And Salomon sayd Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel who spake
Which when al the people had seene they fel on their face and said Our Lord he is God our Lord he is God † And Elias said to them Apprehend the prophetes of Baal and let not one escape of them Whom when they had taken Elias brought them to the Torrent cison and killed them there † And Elias sayd to Achab Goe vp eate and drinke because there is sound of much raine † Achab went vp to eate and drinke and Elias went vp into the toppe of Carmel and flatte on the earth put his face betwen his knees † and he said to his seruant Goe vp and looke toward the sea Who when he was gone vp and had looked he said There is nothing And againe he said to him Returne seuen tymes † And in the seuenth time Behold a litle cloud as it were a mans foote came vp from the sea Who said Goe vp and say to Achab Yoke thy chariote and goe downe lest the raine preuent thee † And when he turned him felfe hither and thither behold the heauens were darkened and cloudes and winde and there fel great raine Achab therfore going vp went into Iezrahel † and the hand of our Lord was made vpon Elias and his loynes girded he ranne before Achab vntil he came into Iezrahel CHAP. XIX Elias fleing Iezabel in the desert eateth a harth cake and drinketh water brought by an Angel and so goeth fourtie dayes and nightes vnto mount Horeb. 9. Lamenting that he alone is leist of the prophetes of God 15. God commandeth him to returne to Damascus and anoint Hazael king of Syria Iehu king of Israel and Eliseus a prophet 18. and telleth him there remaine seuen thousand in Israel which haue not bowed to Baal AND Achab told Iezabel al thinges that Elias had done and how he had killed al the prophetes with the sword † And Iezabel sent a messenger to Elias saying These thinges do the goddes to me and these adde they if this houre to morow I make not thy soule as the soule of one of them † Elias therfore was afraid rysing he went whither soeuer his wil caried him and he came into Bersabee of Iuda and leaft his seruant there † and went forward into the desert one dayes iourney And when he was come and sate vnder a iuniper tree he desired for his soule to die and sayd It sufficeth me Lord take my soul for I am not better then my fathers † And he cast him self downe and slept in the shadow of the iuniper tree and behold an Angel of our Lord touched him and sayd to him Arise and eate † He looked and behold at his head harthbaked bread and a vessel of water he therfore did eate and drinke and he slept againe † And the Angel of our Lord returned the second time and touched him and said to him Arise eate for thou hast yet a great way to goe † Who when he was risen did eate and drinke walked in the strength of that meate fourtie daies and fourtie nightes vnto the mount of God Horeb. † And when he was come thither he taried in a caue and behold the word of our Lord vnto him he said to him What doest thou here Elias † But he answered With zele haue I beene zelous for our Lord the God of hostes because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant thy altars haue they destroyed thy prophetes they haue slaine with the sword I alone am leaft they seeke my life to take it away † And he said to him Come forth and stand in the mount before our Lord and behold our Lord passeth and a great winde and strong ouerthrowing mountaynes and breaking rockes before our Lord not in the winde is our Lord and after the winde an earth quake not in the earth quake is our Lord † and after the earth quake fire not in the fire is our Lord and after the fire a wistling of a gentle winde † Which when Elias had heard he couered his face with his mantel and coming forth stood in the doore of the caue and behold a voyce vnto him saying What doest thou here Elias † And he answered With zele haue I beene zelous for our Lord the God of hostes because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant thyn altars they haue destroyed and thy prophetes they haue slaine with the sword and I alone am leaft and they seeke my life to take it away † And our Lord sayd to him Goe and returne into thy way by the desert of Damiascus and when thou art come thither thou shalt anoint Hazael king ouer Syria † and Iehu the sonne of Namsi thou shalt anoynt king ouer Israel and Eliseus the sonne of Saphat which is of Abelmeula thou shalt anoynt prophet for thee † And it shal be whosoeuer shal escape the sword of Hazael him Iehu shal kil and whosouer shal escape the sword of Iehu him shal Eliseus kil † And I wil leaue me in Israel seuen thousand men whose knees haue not beene bowed before Baal and euerie mouth that hath not adored him kyssing his handes † Elias therfore departing thence found Eliseus the sonne of Saphat ploughing with twelue yoke of oxen and he was one of them that ploughed with twelue yoke of oxen and when Elias came to him he cast his mantel vpon him † Who forth with leauing the oxen ranne after Elias and said Let me kisse I pray thee my father and my mother and so I wil folow thee And he sayd to him Goe and returne for that which was my part I haue donne to thee † And returning from him he tooke a yoke of oxen and killed them and sod the flesh with the plough of the oxen and gaue to the people and they did eate and rysing vp he departed and folowed Elias ministred to him CHAP. XX. The Syrians threatning and besieging Samaria 13. God signifieth by a prophet to Achab that he shal haue the victorie 20. which he obtaineth 23. Also the second yeare fighting in the champaine 31. ●ut sauing the king of Syrians life and making league with him 35. one of the children of the prophetes being slaine for not stryking when he was so commanded 37. an other denounceth reuenge to Achab for not killing the Syrian King MOREOVER Benadad the king of Syria gathered together al his host two thirtie kinges with him horses and chariotes and going vp fought agaynst Samaria and besieged it † And sending messengers to Achab the king of Israal into the citie † he said Thus saith Benadad Thy siluer and thy gold is mine and thy wiues and thy principal children be mine † And the king of Israel answered According to thy word my lord king I am thine and al that is mine † And the messengers returning said Thus saith Benadad which sent vs vnto thee Thy siluer and thy gold and thy wiues and thy children thou shalt geue me † To morow therfore this verie
into him a spirit and he shal here a message and shal returne into his country and I wil ouerthrow him with the sword in his country † Rabsaces therfore returned and found the king of Assyrians expugning Lobna for he heard that he was departed from Lachis † And when he had heard of Tharaca the king of Aethiopia saying Behold he is come forth to fight agaynst thee and went agaynst him he sent messengers to Ezechias saying † Say this to Ezechias the king of Iuda Let not thy God seduce thee in whom thou hast confidence neither say thou Ierusalem shal not be deliuered into the handes of the king of the Assyrians † For thou thy self hast heard what the kinges of the Assyrians haue done to al the countries how they haue spoyled them canst thou therfore onlie be deliuered † Why haue the goddes of the Nations deliuered al those whom my fathers haue destroyed to witte Gozan Haran and Reseph and the children of Eden which were in Thelassar † Where is the king of Emath and the king of Arphad and the king of the citie of Sepharuaim of Ana and Aua † Therfore when Ezechias had receiued the letters of the hand of messengers had read them he went vp into the house of our Lord layd them open before our Lord † prayd in his sight saying Lord God of Israel which sittest vpon the cherubins thou art the only God of al the kinges of the earth thou madest heauen and earth † Incline thine eare and heare open Lord thine eies and see and heare al the wordes of Sennacherib who hath sent to vpbrayd vnto vs the liuing God † In verie deede Lord the kinges of the Assyrians haue destroyed Nations and the countries of al. † And they haue cast their goddes into fire for they were not goddes but the workes of mens handes of wood and stone and they destroyed them † Now therfore O Lord our God saue vs from his hand that al the kingdomes of the earth may know that thou art the Lord the onlie God † And Isaie the sonne of Amos sent to Ezechias saying Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel That which thou hast besought me concerning Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians I haue heard † This is the word that our Lord hath spoken of him The virgine daughter of Sion hath dispised thee and scorned thee Behinde thy backe hath the daughter of Ierusalem wagged her head † Whom hast thou vpbrayded and whom hast thou blasphemed against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted vp thine eies in high against the holie one of Israel † By the hand of thy seruantes thou hast vpbrayded our Lord and hast sayd In the multitude of my chariotes haue I climed the height of mouutaynes in the toppe of Libanus and haue cut downe high cedars therof and the chosen ●irretrees of it And I haue entered into the borders therof the forrest of the carmel therof † haue I cut downe And I haue drunke strange waters and haue dried vp with the steppes of my feete al the waters in closed † Why hast thou not heard what I haue done from the begining From ancient daies I haue made that thing and now I haue brought it to effect and fensed cities shal be into ruine of litle hilles bickering together † And they that sitte in them weake of hand they haue trembled and are confounded they became as the grasse of the field and the greene herbe of the roofes of houses which withered before it came to ripenesse † Thy habitation and thy going out and thy coming in and thy waye I haue knowen before thy surie against me † Thou hast bene madde against me thy pride hath ascended into myn eares I therfore wil put a ring in thy nostrels and a bitte in thy lippes and wil bring thee back into the way by the which thou camest † And to thee Ezechias this shal be a signe Eate this yeare what thou shalt finde in the second yeare the things that growe of themselues moreouer in the third yeare sawe ye and reape plant ye vineyardes and eate the fruite of them † And whatsoeuer shal be leaft of the house of Iuda shal take roote downeward and beare fruit vpward † For out of Ierusalem there shal remmantes goe forth and that which is to be saued from the mounte of Sion the zeale of the Lord of hostes shal doe this † Wherfore thus sayth our Lord of the king of the Assyrians He shal not enter into this citie nor shoote arrowe into it neither shal shield occupie it nor munition compasse it † By the way that he came he shal returne and into this citie he shal nos enter sayth our Lord † And I wil protect this citie and wil saue it for my self and for Dauid my seruant † It came to passe therfore in that night an Angel of our Lord came and stroke in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred eightie fiue thousand And when he was risen early he sawe al the bodies of the dead † and Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians departing went away and taried in Niniue † And when he adored in the temple of Nesroch his god Adramelech and Sarasar his sonnes stroke him with the sword and they fled into the land of the Armenians and Asarhaddon his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XX. Ezechias being sick is told by Isaias that he shal die but praying to God obtayneth fiftenne yeares longer life 8. and in confirmation therof receiueth a signe in Achaz dial returning back tenne lines 12. To the A●yrians bringing him presents he sheweth al his treasures 16. which Isaias reprouing prophecieth the captiuitie of Iuda 20. Ezechias dieth and his sonne Manasses reigneth IN those dayes Ezechias was sick euen to death and Isaie the sonne of Amos the prophete came and sayd to him Thus sayth our Lord God Take order with thy house for thou shalt die and shalt not liue † Who turned his face to the wal and prayed our Lord saying † I besech thee Lord remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect hart and haue done that which is liked before thee Ezechias therfore wept with great weeping † And before Isaie was gone out of the middes of the court the word of our Lord came to him saying † Returne and tel Ezechias the prince of my people Thus sayth our Lord the God of Dauid thy father I haue heard thy prayer and seene thy teares and behold I haue healed thee the third day thou shalt goe vp to the temple of the Lord. † And I wil adde to thy daies fiftene yeares yea out of the hand of the king of Assyrians I wil deliuer thee and this citie I wil protect this citie for my sake and for Dauid my seruant † And Isaie said Fetch me a bunch of figges Which when they had brought and had layd it vpon
ouer the loaues of proposition to prepare alwaies new euerie Sabbath † These are the chief of the singing men by the families of the Leuites which abode in the chambers that they might day and night continually serue in their ministerie † The heades of the Leuites princes in their families taried in Ierusalem † And in Gabaon abode Iehiel the father of Gabaon and the name of his wise Maacha † His first begotten sonne Abdon and Sur and Cis and Baal and Ner and Nadab † Gedor also and Ahio and Zacharias and Macelloth † Moreouer Macelloth begat Samaan these dwelt ouer agaynst their brethren in Ierusalem with their brethren † And Ner bagat Cis and Cis begat Saul end Saul begat Ionathas and Melchisua and Abinadab and Esbaal. † And the sonne of Ionathas Meribbaal and Meribbaal begat Micha † Moreouer the sonnes of Micha Phithon and Molech and Tharaa and Ahaz † And Ahaz begat Iara and Iara begat Alamath and Azmoth and Zamri And Zamri begat Mosa † And Mosa begat Banaa whose sonne Raphaia bepat Elasa of whom was borne Asel † Moreouer Asel had six sonnes of these names Ezricam Bochru Ismael Saria ●bdi● Hanan these are the sonnes of Asel CHAP. X. King Saul with his three sonnes are slaine by the Philistians 8. who spoi●e the armie and carie 〈◊〉 ay Souls head 11. The men of Iabes Galaad ●●rie his bodie and his sonnes fasting for them seuen daies And the kingdom is translated to Dauid AMD the Philistijms fought agaynst Israel and the men of Israel fled from the Palesthines and they fel wounded in mount Gelboe † And when the Philisthians were come nere pursewing Saul and his sonnes they stroke Ionathas and Abinadab and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul † And the battel grewc sore agaynst Saul and the archers found him and wounded him with arrowes † And Saul sayd to his esquyer Draw thy swoord and kil me lest perhaps these vncircumcised come and deride me But his harnes bearer would not being frighted with feare Saul therfore caught his sword and fel vpon it † Which when his harnes bearer had seene to witte that Saul was dead him self also fel vpon his sword and died † Saul therfore died and his three sonnes and al his house fel together † Which when the men of Israel had sene that dwelt in the ch●inpayne they fled and Saul and his sonnes being dead they forsooke their cities and were dispersed hither and thither and the Philisthijms came and dwelt in them † The next day therfore the Philisthijms taking away the spoiles of them that were stayne found Saul and his sonnes lying on mount Gelboe † And when they had spoyled him and cut of his head and stripped him of his armour they sent into their land that it should be caried about and should be shewed in the temples of the Idols and to the people † and his armour they dedicated in the temple of their god and the head they nailed vp in the temple of Dagon † When the men of Iabes Galaad had heard this to witte al thinges that the Philistijms had done vpon Saul † euerie one of the valiant men arose and tooke the bodies of Saul and of his sonnes and brought them into Iabes and buried their bones vnder an oke that was in Iabes and they fasted seuen daies † Saul therfore died for his iniquities for that he transgressed the commandement of our Lord which he had commanded and kept it not yea and besides also consulted the Pythonesse † and trusted not in our Lord for the which he slewe him and transferred his kingdome to Dauid the sonne of Isai CHAP. XI Dauid is elected and annointed king 5. He ouerthroweth the Iebusites taking the towre of Sion in Ierusalem and prospereth 10. His valiant men and their heroical actes are recited 17. He desiring water from the cisterne of Bethleem wil not drink it but offereth it in sacrifice because it is brought with danger of his valiant mens liues 20. Other valiant men of the second order are likewise recited AL Israel therfore was gathered together to Dauid in Hebron saying We are thy bone and thy flesh † Yesterday also and the day before when Saul as yet reigned thou wast he that didst leade out and leade in Israel for to thee our Lord thy God sayd Thou shalt feede my people Israel and thou shalt be prince ouer it † Al the ancientes therfore of Israel came to the king into Hebron and Dauid entred into a league with them before our Lord and they annoynted him king ouer Israel according to the word of our Lord which he spake in the hand of Samuel † Dauid also went and al Israel into Ierusalem this is Iebus where the Iebuseites were the inhabiters of the land † And they that dwelt in Iebus sayd to Dauid Thou shalt not come in here Moreouer Dauid tooke the towre of Sion which is the Citie of Dauid † and he sayd Euerie one that shal among the first strike the Iebuseite shal be the prince and chiefe captayne Ioab therfore the sonne of Saruia went vp first and was made the prince † And Dauid dwelt in the towre and therfore it was called the Citie of Dauid † And he built the citie round about from Mello vnto a round compasse and Ioab built the rest of the citie † And dauid ptospered going and increasing and the Lord of hostes was with him † These are the princes of the valiant men of Dauid which holpe him to be made king ouer al Israel according to the word of our Lord which he spake to Israel † And this is the number of dauids strong ones Iesbaam the sonne of Hachamoni prince among thirtie this man lifted vp his speare vpon three hundred wounded at one time † And after him Eleazar his vncles sonne an Ahohite who was among the three mighties † This was with Dauid in Phesdomim when the Philisthijms were gathered to that place into battel and the field of that countrie was ful of barley and the people was fled from the face of the Philisthimes † These stood in the middes of the fielde and defended him and when they had striken the Philistheans our Lord gaue great health to his people † And there went downe three of the thirtie princes to a rocke wherin Dauid was to the caue of Odollam when the Philisthijms had camped in the Vale raphaim † Moreouer dauid was in a hold and the ward of the Phelisthimes in Bethlehem † Dauid therfore desired and sayd O that some man would giue me water of the cesterne of Bethlehem which is in the gate † These three therfore went forward through the middes of the campe of the Philisthimes and drewe water of the cesterne of Bethlehem which was in the gate and brought it to Dauid to drinke who would not but tather offered it to our Lord † saying God forbid that in the sight of my God I should doe this and should
euerie naile weighed fiftie sicles a peece the vpper chambers also he couered with gold † He made also in the house of Sanctum sanctorum two Cherubs of statuarie worke and he couered them with gold † The winges of the cherubs were extended twentie cubites so that one wing had fiue cubites and touched the wal of the house and the other hauing fiue cubites touched the wing of the other cherub † In like maner the wing of the other cherub had fiue cubites and touched the wal and his other wing of fiue cubites touched the wing of the other Cherub † Therfore the winges of both the cherubs were spred forth and were extended twentie cubites and they stoode vpright on their feete and their faces were turned to the vtter house † He made also a vele of hyacinth purple scarlet and silke woue in it cherubs † Before the doores also of the temple two pillers which had fiue and thirtie cubites in height moreouer their heades of fiue cubites † Moreouer also as it were litle chaynes in the oracle he put them to the heades of the pillers pomegranates also an hundred which he put betwen the litle chaynes † The pillers also them selues he put in the entrance of the temple one on the right hand and the other on the left that which was on the right hand he called Iachin and that on the left hand Boz CHAP. IIII. The formes of the brasen altar 2. of the lauatorie or Sea with figures of twelue oxen 6. of other tenne smal lauatories 7. tenne candlestickes 8. tenne tables and an hundred bassens a great hal for the Priestes 10. and other vessel and ornamentes of the Temple are described HE made also an altar of brasse of twentie cubites in length and of twentie cubites in bredth and of ten cubites in height † A Sea also cast ten cubites from brimme to brimme round in compasse it had fiue cubites in height and a corde of thirtie cubires did compasse it round about † There was also vnder it the similitude of oxen and certaine engrauinges of ten cubites on the outside compassed the bealie of the Sea as it were with two rewes † And the oxen were cast and the Sea it self was sette vpon the twelue oxen of the which three looked toward the North and other three to the West moreouer other three to the South and the three that remayned to the East hauing the Sea put vpon them and the hinder partes of the oxen were inward vnder the sea † Moreouer the thicknesse therof had the measure of a palme and the brimme therof was as it were the brimme of a chalice or of a crisped lilie and it held three thousand metretes † He made also ten lauatories and set fiue on the right hand and fiue on the left that they might wash in them al thinges that they would offer for holocaust moreouer in the Sea the priestes were washed † And he made also ten golden candlestickes according to the fashion which they were commanded to be made by and he set them in the temple fiue on the right hand fiue on the left † Moreouer also ten tables and he set them in the temple fiue on the right hand and fiue on the left Phials also of gold an hundred † He made also the court of the priestes and a great hal and doores in the hal which he couered with brasse † Moreouer he set the Sea on the right side agaynst the East toward the South † And Hiram made cauldrons and flesh hookes and phials and accomplished al the kinges worke in the house of God † that is to say two pillers and the chapiters and the heades and asit were certayne litle nettes which should couer the heades ouer the chapiters † Pomegranates also foure hundred and two litle nettes soe that two rewes of the pomegranates were ioyned to ech litle nette which couered the pommels and the heades of the pillers † He made feete also and lauatories which he put vpon the feete † one sea also twelue oxen vnder the sea † And the cauldrons and flesh hookes and phials Al the vessels did Hiram his father make for Salomon in the house of our Lord of most pure brasse † In the countrie of Iordan did the king cast them in a clay ground bewen Socot and Saredatha † And the multitude of vessels was innumerable so that the weight of the brasse was not knowen † And Salomon made al the vessels of the house of God and the golden altar and the tables vpon them the loaues of proposition † the candlestickes also with their lampes to giue light before the oracle according to the rite of most pure gold † and certayne florishing thinges and lampes and golden tonges al were made of most fine gold † The vessels also of persume and censars and phials and litle mortars of most pure gold And he graued the doores of the inner temple that is in Sancta sanctorum and the doores of the temple without of gold And so al the worke was finishd which Salomon made in the house of our Lord. CHAP. V. Manie giftes are offered 4. The Arke is brought with great solennitie into the Temple 6. Innumerable hostes are offered 11. with excellent musick the Temple is replenished with the glorie of God SALOMON therfore brought in al the thinges that Dauid his father had vowed the siluer and gold and al the vessels he put in the treasures of the house of God † After which thinges he gathered together al the ancientes of Israel and al the princes of the tribes and the heades of families of the children of Israel into Ierusalem to bring the Arke of the couenant of our Lord from the Citie of Dauid which is Sion † There came therfore vnto the king al the men of Israel in the solemne day of the seuenth moneth † And when al the ancientes of Israel were come the Leuites caried the Arke † and brought it in and al the furniture of the tabernacle Moreouer the Priestes with the Leuites did carrie the vessels of the Sanctuarie which were in the tabernacle † And king Salomon and al the assemblie of Israel and al that were gathered before the Arke immolated rammes and oxen without anie number for so great was the multitude of victimes † And the priestes brought in the Arke of the couenant of our Lord into his place that is to the oracle of the temple into Sancta sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs † so that the cherubs spred their winges ouer the place wherin the Arke was set and couered the Arke it selfe with his barres † And the heades of the barres wherwith the Arke was caried because they were a litle longer appeared before the oracle but if a man had beene a litle outward he could not see them The Arke therfore was there vntil this present day † And there was nothing in the
gathered together of the prophetes four hundred men and sayd to them Shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight or sitte stil But they sayd Goe vp say they and God wil deliuer it into thy hand † And Iosaphat sayd Is there not here a prophete of our Lord that we may enquire also of him † And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat There is one man of whom we may aske wil of our Lord but I hate him because he doth not prophecie me good but euil at al times and it is Micheas the sonne of Iemla And Iosaphat sayd Speake not in this maner ô king † The king of Israel therfore called one of the Eunuches and sayd to him Cal quickly Micheas the sonne of Iemla † Moreouer the king of Israel and Iosaphat the king of Iuda sate in their thrones clothed with kinglie attyre and they sate in the court beside the gate of Samaria and al the prophetes before them † But Sedecias the sonne of Chanaana made him hornes of yron and sayd Thus sayth our Lord With these shal● thou strike Syria til thou destroy it † And al the prophetes in like manner prophecied and sayd Goe vp into Ramoth Galaad and thou shalt prosper and our Lord wil deliuer them into the kinges hand † And the messenger that went to cal Micheas sayd to him Behold the wordes of al the prophetes with one mouth tel the king good thinges I besech thee therfore that thy word also dissent not from them and that thou speake prosperous thinges † To whom Micheas answered Our Lord liueth whatsoeuer my God shal say to me that wil I speake † He therfore came to the king To whom the king sayd Micheas shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight or sit stil To whom he answered Goe ye vp for al thinges shal fal out prosperous and the enemies shal be deliuered into your handes † And the king sayd Agayne and agayne I adiure thee that thou speake not to me but that which is true in the name of our Lord. † But he sayd I saw al Israel disperst in the mountaynes as sheepe without a shepheard and our Lord sayd These haue no maisters let euerie man returne into his house in peace † And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat did I not tel thee that this man did not prophecie me anie good but these thinges that be euil † But he sayd Heare ye therfore the word of our Lord I saw our Lord sitting in his throne and al the host of heauen assisting him on the right hand on the left † And our Lord sayd who shal deceiue Achab the king of Israel that he may goe vp and fal in Ramoth Galaad And when one sayd in this maner and an other otherwise † there came forth a spirit and stood before our Lord and sayd I wil deceiue him To whom our Lord sayd wherin wilt thou deceiue him † But he answered I wil goe forth and wil be a lying spirit in the mouth of al his prophetes And our Lord sayd Thou shalt deceiue and shalt preuaile goe forth and doe so † Now therfore behold our Lord hath geuen the spirit of lying in the mouth of al thy prophetes and our Lord hath spoken of thee euil thinges † And Sedecias the sonne of Chanaana came and stroke the cheeke of Micheas and sayd which way passed the spirit of our Lord from me that it should speake to thee † And Micheas sayd Thou thy self shalt see in that day when thou shalt enter into chamber out of chamber to be hid † And the king of Israel commanded saying Take Micheas and lead him to Amon the gouernour of the citie and to Ioab the sonne of Amelech † And you shal say Thus sayth the king Cast this felow into prison and giue him a litle bread and a litle water til I returne in peace † And Micheas sayd If thou returne in peace our Lord hath not spoken in me he sayd Heare al ye peoples † Therfore the king of Israel and Iosaphat the king of Iuda went vp into Ramoth Galaad † And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat I wil change my habite and so I wil goe to the fight but be thou clothed with thine owne garmentes And the king of Israel changing his habit came to the battel † And the king of Syria had commanded the captaynes of his horsemen saying Fight not agaynst the least or agaynst the greatest but agaynst the king of Israel only † Therfore when the princes of the horsemen saw Iosaphat they sayd This is the king of Israel And they compassed him fighting but he cried to our Lord and he holpe him and turned them away from him † For when the captaynes of the horsemen saw that is was not the king of Israel they lea●t him † And it chanced that one of the people shot an arrow at aduenture and stroke the king of Israel betwen the necke and the shoulders and he sayd to his cocher Turne thy hand and carie me out of the battel because I am wounded † And the fight was ended in that day moreouer the king of Israel stood in his chariote agaynst the Syrians vntil euening and died at the sunne sette CHAP. XIX Iosaphat being reproued by a prophet for yelding help to Achab 5. appoynteth Iudges in seueral cities admonishing them to doe iustice 8. exhorteth Priestes and Leuites to execute their sunctious carefully 11. Amarias High Priest directing and ruling in thinges belonging to God Zabedias general captayne gouerneth the kinges affayres AND Iosaphat the king of Iuda returned into his house peaceably into Ierusalem † Whom Iehu the sonne of Hanani the Seer mette and sayd to him To the impious man thou geuest ayde and to them that hate our Lord thou art ioyned in frendship and therfore thou didst deserue in deed the wrath of our Lord † but good workes are found in thee for that thou hast taken away the groues out of the land of Iuda and hast prepared thy hart to seeke our Lord the God of thy fathers † Iosaphat therfore dwelt in Ierusalem and he went forth to the people agayne from Bersabee vnto mount Ephraim and recalled them to our Lord the God of their fathers † And he appoynted iudges of the land in al the fensed cities of Iuda in euerie place † and commanding the iudges he sayd Take heede what you doe for you exercise not the iudgement of man but of our Lord and whatsoeuer you shal iudge it shal redound to you † Let the feare of our Lord be with you and with diligence doe al thinges for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God nor acception of personnes nor desyre of giftes † In Ierusalem also Iosaphat appoynted Leuites and Priestes and princes of families of Israel that they should iudge the iudgement and cause of our Lord to the inhabitantes therof † And he commanded them saying Thus shal you doe in the feare of our Lord
that sate on the walles of Ierusalem that he might terrifie them and take the citie † And he spake agaynst the God of Ierusalem as agaynst the goddes of the peoples of the earth the workes of mens handes † Ezechias therfore the king and Isaias the prophet the sonne of Amos prayed agaynst this blasphemie and cried out euen to heauen † And our Lord sent an Angel which stroke euerie strong man and warryer and prince of the armie of the king of the Assyrians and he returned with ignominie into his countrie And when he was entered into the house of his God his sonnes that were come forth of his wombe slewe him with the sword † And our Lord saued Ezechias and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians and out of the hand of al gaue them rest round about † Manie also brought hostes and sacrifices to our Lord into Ierusalem and giftes to Ezechias the king of Iuda who was exalted after these thinges before al nations † In those daies Ezechias was sick euen to death and he prayed our Lord and he heard him and gaue him a signe † But not according to the benefites which he receiued did he recompense because his hart was eleuated and wrath came agaynst him and agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem † And he was humbled afterward because his hart had bene exalted both he and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and therfore the wrath of our Lord came not vpon them in the daies of Ezechias † And Ezechias was rich and glorious excedingly and gathered to himself great treasures of siluer and of gold and of pretious stone of spices and of armour of al kinde and of vessels of great price † Storehouses also of corne of wyne and of oyle and stalles of al beastes and foldes of cattel † and six cities he built to him self for he had flockes of sheepe and of heardes innumerable because our Lord had geuen him substance exceding much † The same is Ezechias that stopped the vpper fountaine of the waters of Gihon and turned them away vnderneth toward the West of the Citie of Dauid in al his workes he did prosperously what he would † But yet in the embassie of the princes of Babylon that were sent to him to aske of the wonder that had chanced vpon the earth God leift him that he might be tempted and al thinges might be made knowen that were in his hart † But the rest of the wordes of Ezechias and of his mercies are writen in the vision of Isaias the sonne of Amos the prophete and in the booke of the kinges of Iuda Israel † And Ezechias slept with his fathers and they buried him in the chiefe sepulchres of the children of Dauid and al Iuda celebrated his funeralles al the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and Manasses his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXXIII Manasses for his manifold wickednes is led captiue into Babylon 12. repenteth in prison is restored to his kingdom and destroyeth idolatrie 18. dieth 21. Amon succeding 24. is slayne by his seruantes and Iosias reigneth TWELVE yeares old was Manasses when he began to reigne and he reigned fiftie fiue yeares in Ierusalem † And he did euil before our Lord according to al the abominations of the nations which our Lord ouerthrew before the children of Israel † and being turned he reedified the excelses which Ezechias his father had destroyed and he built altars to Baalim and made groues and he adored al the host of heauen and worshipped it † He built also altars in the house of our Lord wherof our Lord had sayd In Ierusalem shal my name be for euer † And he built them to al the host of heauen in the two courtes of the house of our Lord. † And he made his sonnes to passe through fyre to the Valebenennom he obserued dreames folowed southsayings gaue him self to magike artes he had with him magicians inchaunters and he wrought manie euils before our Lord to prouoke him † Also a grauen and a molten signe he put in the house of God wherof our Lord spake to Dauid and to Salomon his sonne saying In this house and in Ierusalem which I haue chosen al the tribes of Israel Wil I put my name for euer † And I wil not make the foote of Israel to moue out of the land which I haue deliuered to their fathers yet so if they shal obserue to doe that I haue commanded them and al the law and the ceremonies and iudgementes by the hand of Moyses † Manasses therfore seduced Iuda and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that they did euil aboue al the nations which our Lord had ouerthrowen before the face of the children of Israel † And our Lord spake to him and to his people and they would not attend † Therfore he brought vpon them the princes of the host of the king of the Assyrians and they tooke Manasses led him bound with chaynes and fetters into Babylon † Who after that he was in distresse prayed our Lord his God and did penance excedingly before the God of his fathers † And he desired him and besought him earnestly and he heard his prayer and brought him agayne to Ierusalem into his kingdom and Manasses knew that our Lord he was God † After these thinges he built a wal without the citie of Dauid on the west of Gihon in the valley from the entrance of the fish gate round about vnto Ophel and raysed it excedingly and he appoynted princes of the host in al the fensed cities of Iuda † and he tooke away strange goddes and the idol out of the house of our Lord the altars also which he had made in the mount of the house of our Lord and in Ierusalem and he threw al without the citie † Moreouer he reedified the altar of our Lord and immolated vpon it victimes and pacifiques and prayse and he commanded Iuda to serue our Lord the God of Israel † Neuerthelesse as yet the people immolated in the excelses to our Lord their God † But the rest of the actes of Manasses and his obsecration to his God the wordes also of the Seers that spake to him in the name of our Lord the God of Israel are conteyned in the wordes of the kinges of Israel † His prayer also and his obtayning and al his sinnes and contempt the places also wherein he built excelses and made groues and statues before he did penance are writen in the wordes of Hozai † Manasses therfore slept with his fathers and they buried him in his house his sonne Amon reigned for him † Ammon was two and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne and he reigned two yeares in Ierusalem † And he did euil in the fight of our Lord as Manasses his father had done and he immolated to al the idols which Manasses his father had made and serued them † And he did not reuerence
and began to pray with teares † saying Thou art iust ô Lord al thy iudgementes are iust and al thy waies mercie truth and iudgement † And now Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge of my sinnes neither remember the sinnes of me or of my parentes † Because we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes therfore we are deliuered in spoile and captiuitie and death and into a fable and into reproch to al nations in which thou hast dispersed vs. † And now Lord great are thy iudgementes because we haue not done according to thy preceptes haue not walked sincerely before thee † and now Lord according to thy wil do with me command my spirite to be receiued in peace for it is expedient for me to die rather then to liue † The verie same day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter of Raguel in Rages a citie of the Medes she also heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes † because she had beene deliuered to seuen husbandes the diuel named Asmodeus had killed them forth with as they were entred in vnto her † Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her fault she answered her saying Let vs no more see sonne of thee or daughter vpon the earth thou murderer of thy husbandes † What wilt thou kil me also as thou hast now killed seuen husbandes At this voice she went into an higher chamber of her house and three dayes and three nightes did not eate nor drinke † but continewing in prayer with teares besought God that he would deliuer her from this reproch † And it came to passe the third day whiles she accomplished her prayer blessing our Lord † she sayd Blessed is thy name ô God of our fathers who when thou hast bene angrie wilt doe mercie in the time of tribulation forgeuest them their sinnes that inuocate thee † To thee ô Lord I turne my face to thee I direct myne eyes † I desire Lord that thou loose me from the bond of this reproch or els take me away from the earth † Thou knowest Lord that I neuer coueted a husband and haue kept my soule cleane from al concupiscence † Neuer haue I companied my self with sporters neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in lightnesse † But a husband I consented to take with thy feare not with my lust † And either I was vnworthie of them or they perhaps were not worthie for me because perhaps thou hast kept me for an other man † For thy counsel is not in mans power † But this hath euerie one for certayne that worshippeth thee that his life if it be in probation shal be crowned and if it be in tribulation it shal be deliuered and if it be in correction it shal be lawful to come to thy mercie † For thou art not delighted in our perditions because after a tempest thou makest a calme and after teares and weeping thou powrest in ioyfulnesse † Be thy name God of Israel blessed foreuer † At that time the prayers of both were heard in the sight of the glorie of the high God † and the holie Angel of our Lord Raphael was sent to cure them both whose prayers at one time were recited in the sight of our Lord. CHAP. IIII. Tobias thincking he shal dye geueth his sonne godlie admonitions 7. especially exhorteth him to geue almes diligently 13. to flee al fornication pride and fraude 21. And telleth him of money lent to a friend THERFORE when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard that he might haue died he called to him Tobias his sonne † and sayd to him Heare my sonne the wordes of my mouth lay them as a foundation in thy hart † When God shal take my soule * burie my bodie and thou shalt doe * honour to thy mother al the dayes of her life † for thou must be mindful what perils and how great she suffered for thee in her wombe † And when she also shal haue accomplished the time of her life burie her beside me † And al the dayes of thy life * haue God in thy mind and beware thou consent not to sinne at anie time and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God † * Of thy substance geue almes and turne not away thy face from anie poore person for so it shal come to passe that neither the face of our Lord shal be turned from thee † As thou shalt be able so be merciful † If thou haue much geue aboundantly if thou haue litle studie to impert also a litle willingly † For thou dost treasure vp to thy self a good reward in the day of necessitie † because almes deliuereth from al sinne and from death wil not suffer the soule to goe into darkenesse † Great confidence before God most high shal almes be to al them that doe it † * Take heed to thy self my sonne of al fornication beside thy wife neuer abide to know crime † * Neuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word for in it al perdition tooke his beginning † * Whosoeuer hath wrought anie thing for thee pay him his hyre immediatly and let not the hyre of thy hyred seruant remayne with thee at al. † * That which thou hatest to be done to thee by an other see thou doe it not to an other at anie time † Eate thy bread with the hungrie needie and of thy garmentes couer the naked † * Set thy bread and thy wine vpon the burial of a iust man and doe not eate and drinke therof with sinners † Seeke counsel alwaies of a wiseman † At al time blesse God and desire of him that he direct thy waies and that al thy counsels remayne in him † I tel thee also my sonne that I gaue tenne talentes of siluer whiles thou wast yet a child to Gabelus in Rages a citie of the Medes and I haue a bil of his hand with me † and therfore enquire how thou maist come to him and receiue of him the foresayd weight of siluer and restore him the bil of his hand † Feare not my sonne we leade in dede a poore life but we shal haue many good thinges if we feare God and depart from al sinne and doe wel CHAP. V. Yong Tobias seeking a guide for his iourney Raphael the Angel in shape of a man presenteth himself and vndertaketh this office 23. The mother lamenteth the abscence and danger of her sonne THEN Tobias answered his father and sayd I wil doe al things father whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me † But how I shal require this money I can nor tel he knoweth not me and I know not him what token shal I geue him Yea neither the way which leadeth thither did I euer know † Then his father answered him and sayd I haue the bil of his hand with me which when thou shalt
together to Ozias al together with one voice † said God iudge betwen vs and thee because thou hast done euil agaynst vs in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes † And there is none to helpe wheras we lye prostrate before their eies in thirst great destruction † And now assemble ye al that are in the citie that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes † For it is better that captiues we blesse our Lord liuing then we should die and be a reproch to al flesh when we shal see our wiues and our infantes die before our eies † We cal to witnes this day heauen and earth and the God of our fathers which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes that now you deliuer the cirie into the hand of Holofernes armie that our end may be short in the edge of the sword which is made longer in the drught of thirst † And when they had said these thinges there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God saying † We haue sinned with our fathers we haue done vniustly we haue committed iniquitie † Thou because thou art gracious haue mercie vpon vs or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee † that they say not among the Gentiles Where is their God † And when they wearied with these cries and tyred with these weepings had held their peace † Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares said Be of good chere bretheren and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord. † For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation and wil geue glorie to his name † But if after fiue dates be past there come no aide we wil doe these wordes which you haue spoken CHAP. VIII Iudith a most veriuous rich fayre renowmed widow 9. rebuketh the high priest and ancientes for their determination to deliuer the citie if ayde come not in fiue dayes 14. exhorteth al to penance 28. They al agree to her godlie aduise 30. praying for good sucesse of her intention which they yet know not AND it came to passe when Iudith a widow had heard these wordes which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Idox the sonne of Ioseph the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Elai the sonne of Iamnor the sonne of Gedeon the sonne of Raphaim the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Melchias the sonne of Enan the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Salathiel the sonne of Simeon the sonne of Israel † and her husband was Manasses who died in the daies of barley haruest † for he was occupied with them that bound sheues in the field and the heate came vpon his head and he died in Bethulia his citie and was buried there with his father † And Iudith was leaft his widow now three yeares and six monethes † And in the higher partes of her house she made her self a secrete chamber in which she abode shut vp with her maides † and hauing cloth of heare vpon her loynes she fasted al the daies of her life but Sabbathes and new-moones and the feastes of the house of Israel † And she was of an exceding beautiful countenance to whom her husband had leaft much richesse and a great familie and possessions ful of heardes of oxen and flockes of sheepe † And she was among al most famous because she feared our Lord very much neither was there that spake an il word of her † When she therfore had heard that Ozias had promised that after the fifth day were past he would yeld the citie she sent to the ancientes Chabri and Charmi. † And they came to her and she said to them What is this word wherein Ozias hath consented to yeld the citie to the Assyrians if within fiue daies there come no ayde to vs † And what are you that tempt our Lord † This is no word that may prouoke mercie but rather that may rayse vp wrath and inflame furie † You haue set a time for the mercie of our Lord and according to your pleasure you haue appointed him a day † But because our Lord is patient let vs be penitent for this same thing and sheding teares let vs desire his pardon † for not as man so wil God threaten neither as the sonne of man wil he be inflamed to anger † And therfore let vs humble our soules to him and being setled in an humble spirit seruing him † let vs say weeping to our Lord that according to his wil so he doe his mercie with vs that as our hart is trubled in their pride so also we may glorie in our humilitie † because we haue not folowed the sinnes of our fathers which forsooke their God and adored strange goddes † for which abomination they were geuen into the sword and into confusion to their enemies but we know no other God but him † Let vs humbly expect his consolation and he wil require our bloud of the afflictions of our enemies and he wil humble al Nations what soeuer shal rise vp against vs and the Lord our God wil make them without honour † And now bretheren because you are ancientes in the people of God and their soules depende of you by your speach comforte their hartes that they be mindful that our fathers were tempted to be proued whether they did worshippe their God truly † They must be mindful how our father Abraham was tempted and by many tribulations proued was made the freind of God † So Isaac so Iacob so Moyses al that haue pleased God through manie tribulations haue passed faithful † But they that did not receiue the tentations with the feare of our Lord and vttered their impatience and reproch of their murmuring against our Lord † were destroyed of the destroyer and perished by serpents † And we therfore let vs not reuenge ourselues for these thinges which we suffer † but reputing these verie punishments to be the scourges of our Lord lesse then our sinnes wherwith as seruantes we are chastised let vs thinke them to haue chanced to our amendement and not to our destruction † And Ozias and the ancientes sayd to her Al thinges which thou hast spoken be true and there is no reprehension in thy wordes † Now therfore pray for vs because thou art a holie woman and fearing God † And Iudith said to them As you know that which I could speake to be of God † so that which I haue disposed to doe proue if it be of God and pray that God establish my counsel † You shal stand at the gate this night and I wil goe out with myne abra and pray ye that as you haue said in fiue dayes our Lord respect his people Israel † But I
† For our Lord knoweth the way of the iust and the way of the impious shal perish ANNOTATIONS PSALME I. 1. Hath not gone not stood not sitte The Hebrew stile and maner of discourse differeth here from other nations in mentioning first the lesse euil and the greatest last VVhereas we would say in the contrary order He is happie that hath not sitte that is hath not setled himselfe in wickednes nor finally persisted obstinate more happie that hath not stood anie notable time continued in sinne and most happie that hath not gone not geuen anie consent at al to euil suggestions 2. His vvil in the vvay of our Lord. As one part of happines consisteth in declining from euil so the other is in doing good the wil desiring and diligently endeuoring to walke in the way of vertue and law of God VVhich is true iustice and right forme of good life proposed in this Psalme for attayning eternal beatitude PSALME II. Christs glorie the world repining therat 4. shal be propagated in al the world 7. His diuine powre as wel spiritual in conuerting mens hartes as external in seuere iustice is prophecied VVHY did the Gentiles rage and peoples meditate vaine things † The kings of the earth stood vp and the princes came together in one against our Lord and against his Christ † Let vs breake their bondes a sunder and let vs cast away their yoke from vs. † He that dwelleth in the heauens shal laugh at them and our Lord shal scorne them † Then shal he speake to them in his wrath in his furie he shal truble them † But I am appoynted king by him ouer Sion his holie hil preaching his precept † The Lord said to me Thou art my Sonne I this day haue be gotten thee † Aske of me and I wil geue thee the Gentiles for thyne inheritance and thy possession the endes of the earth † Thou shalt rule them “ in a rod of yron and “ as a potters vessel thou shalt breake them in peeces † And now “ ye kings vnderstand “ take instruction you that iudge the earth † Serue our Lord in feare and “ reioyce to him with trembling † Apprehend discipline lest sometime our Lord be wrath and you perish out of the iust way † When his wrath shal burne in short time blessed are al that trust in him ANNOTATIONS PSALME II. 2. Kinges and Princes against Christ VVhen Christ and his Apostles preached the Gospel both Iewes and Gentiles with their Princes Kinges and Emperors most furiously resisted but al in vaine For they could not hinder the wil and powre of God But the more they persecuted the more was increased the zele and number of Christians 8. The gentiles thyn inheritance By this promise of God to Christ S. Augustin conuinced the Donatistes in them the Protestantes that say the Church of Christ failed and became smal or inuisible as though Christ the Sonne of God could sometimes lose his inheritance which is the Catholique Church gethered of the Gentiles and his possession extended to the endes of the earth 9. As a potters vessel If a potters vessel saith S. Ierom in hunc Psal tom 8. be broken whiles it is soft it may easily be repared but after it is hard it can not be made whole againe So sinners are more easily restored to grace shortly repeating then long obdurate yet that which is vnpossible to man is possible to God Mat. 10. For as clay in the potters hand so are you in my hand saith our Lord. Iere. 18. 10. Ye kinges vnderstand Not onlie innumerable other people of al nations but also after a while Kinges and Emperors beleued in Christ And such as at first persecuted became most Christian Catholique Defenders of the faith 10. Take instruction you that iudge the earth Petilianus Gaudentius other Donatistes inueyghing against Christian Kinges for punishing heretikes most falsly auoched that Christianitie neuer found kinges but inuious enimies and persecuters To whom S. Augustin answereth in seueral bookes that Christian Kinges and Princes are not enemies to Christianitie but are enemies to heretikes the rebelles of Christ and his Church For according to this prophecie of king Dauid Christian kinges are instructed and know it is their dutie ●● the seruice of God to defend the Church against Heretikes and other Infidelles And it is the propertie of Apostataes to fauour heretikes So good Constantin the great maintained Catholique vnitie and Iulian the Apostata to make greater diuision tooke Churches from Catholiques and gaue them to Donatistes to nourish dissention and so to o●e●●●row al Christians But God stil protecteth the true Church again●● al such suttle and malicious d●ui●es because it is Christs inheritance 11. R●●oy●e vvith trembling Gods seruice is tempeted with two affections with ioy in consideration of his goodnes mercie meeknes and with feare in respect of his ●ustice and ●euere iudgement The one is a remedie against desperation the other against presumption PSALME III. King Dauid recounteth his danger when his sonne Absalom conspired against him 4. and thanketh God for his deliuerie 9 acknowledging al helpe to be from God Mistically Christs persecution Death Burial and Resurrection † The “ Psalme of Dauid “ when he fled from the face of Absalom his sonne 2. Reg. 15. LORD why are they multiplied that truble me manie rise vp against me † Many say to my soule There is no saluation for him in his God † But thou Lord art my protectour my glorie exalting my head † With my voice I haue cried to our Lord and he hath heard me from his holie hil † “ I haue slept and haue bene at rest and haue risen vp because our Lord hath taken me † I wil not feare thousandes of people compassing me arise Lord saue me my God † Because thou hast stroken al that are my aduersaries without cause thou hast broken the teeth of sinners † Saluation is our Lordes and thy blessing vpon thy people ANNOTATIONS PSALME III. 1. Psalme of Dauid Al Interpreters agreably teach that king Dauid made not the titles which are before the Psalmes Neuertheles they are authentical as endited by the Holie Ghost And it is most probable Esdras added those titles which are in the Hebrew and the Seuentie interpreters writte the other in their Greke Edition Both which S. Ierom translated into Latin In these titles fiue thinges may be noted First the former two hauing no title at al the general name of Psalme common to al is particularly appropriated to some and other names to others VVhich in al are twelue to witte Psalme Inscription Prayer Canticle Psalme of Canticle Canticle of Psalme Hymne Testimonie
† Let the enemie persecute my soule and take it and treade downe my life in the earth and bring downe my glorie into the dust † Arise Lord in thy wrath and be exalted in the coastes of myne enemies And arise ô Lord my God in the precept which thou hast cōmanded † and a sinagogue of peoples shal compasse thee And for it returne on high † our Lord iudgeth peoples Iudge me ô Lord according to my iustice and according to my innocencie vpon me † The wickednesse of sinners shal be consumed and thou shalt direct the iust which searchest the hart and raynes ô God † My iust helpe is from our Lord who saueth those that be right of hart God is a iust iudge strong patient is he angrie euerie day † Vnlesse you wil be conuerted he shal shake his sword he hath bent his bow and prepared it † And in it he hath prepared the vessels of death he hath made his arrowes for them that burne † Behold he hath bredde with iniustice he hath conceiued sorow and brought forth iniquitie † He hath opened a pit and digged it vp and he is fallen into the diche which he made † His sorrow shal be turned vpon his head and his iniquitie shal descend vpon his crowne † I wil confesse to our Lord according to his iustice and wil sing to the name of our Lord most high PSALME VIII God is magnified praised for his meruelous worke of creatures 5. but especially of mankind singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ. † Vnto the end for “ presses the Psalme of Dauid O LORD our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth Because thy magnificence is eleuated aboue the heauens † Out of the mouth of infantes and sucklinges thou hast perfected praise because of thine enemies that thou mayest destroy the enemie and reuenger † Because I shal see thy heauens the workes of thy fingers the moone and the starres which thou hast founded † What is man that thou art mindful of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him † Thou hast minished him a litle lesse then Angels with glorie and honour thou hast crowned him † and hast appointed him ouer the worke of thy handes † Thou hast subiected al thinges vnder his feete al sheepe and oxen moreouer also the beastes of the field † The birdes of the ayre and fishes of the sea that walke the pathes of the sea † O Lord our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth ANNOTATIONS PASLME VIII 1. Presses Most Hebrew Doctors say the word Gittith may either signifie the place where this Psalme was made or the musical instrument on which it was song But most Christian Doctors expound it literally of Christs Passion who was stretched on the Crosse and al his sacred bloud pressed and drawne out of his bodie VVhich Metaphor Isaias also vseth demanding of Christ VVhy is thy clothing redde and thy garments as theirs that tread in the vine presse and answereth in Christs person I haue troden the presse alone S. Augustin also applieth it morally to the Church where Christ is the vine the Apostles are the branches spreaders that is preachers of the Ghospel Christians are the grapes Christian vertues are the wine Namely patience and fortitude in afflictions VVherby the good are purified and seuered from amiddes the reprobate as wine is pressed out of the grapes barreled and laid vp in sellers and * the huskes and carnels cast to hogges or other beastes PSALME IX The Church prayseth God for her protection 4. in repelling the enemies force 8. in punishing the wicked and rewarding the iust † Vnto the end for the secrets of the sonne the Psalme of Dauid I WIL confesse to thee ō Lord with al my hart I wil tel al thy meruelous thinges I wil be glad and reioyce in thee I wil sing to thy name ō most High † In turning mine enemie backward they shal be weakened and perish before thy face Because thou hast done my iudgement and my cause thou hast sitte vpon the throne which iudgest iustice Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles and the impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer and for euer and euer † The swordes of the enemie haue fayled vnto the end and their cities thou hast destroyed † Their memorie hath perished with a sound and our Lord abideth for euer He hath prepared his throne in iudgement † he wil iudge the whole world in equitie he wil iudge the people in iustice † And our Lord is made a refuge for the poore an helper in opportunities in tribulation † And let them hope in thee that know thy name because thou hast not forsaken them that seeke thee ô Lord. † Sing to our Lord which dwelleth in Sion declare his studies among the Gentiles † Because he requiring bloud remembred them he hath not forgotten the crie of the poore † Haue mercie on me ô Lord See my humiliation by my enemies † Which exaltest me from the gates of death that I may declare al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion † I wil reioyce in thy saluation the Gentiles are fastened in the destruction which they made In this snare which they hid is their foote taken † Our Lord shal be knowen doing iudgements the sinner is taken in the workes of his owne handes † Let sinners be turned into hel al nations that forget God † Because to the end there shal not be obliuion of the poore man the patience of the poore shal not perish in the end † Arise Lord let not man be strengthned let the Gentiles be iudged in thy sight † Appoint Lord a lawgeuer ouer them that the Gentiles may know that they be men The 10. Psalme according to the Hebrevves † Why Lord hast thou departed far of despisest in opportunities in tribulation † Whiles the impious is proude the poore is set on fyre they are caught in the counsels which they deuise † Because the sinner is praysed in the desires of his soule and the vniust man is blessed † The sinner hath exasperated our Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he shal not seeke † There is no God in his sight his waies are defiled at al time Thy iudgementes are taken away from his face he shal rule ouer al his enemies † For he hath sayd in his hart I wil not be moued from genetion vnto generation without euil Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse and guile vnder his tongue labour and sorrow † He sitteth in waite with the rich in secrete places to kil the innocent † His
aspes vnder their lippes Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse their feete swift to shee l bloud Destruction and infelicitie in their waies and the way of peace they haue not knowen there is no feare of God before their eies Shal not al they know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as foode of bread They haue not inuocated our Lard there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was † Because our Lord is in the iust generation you haue confounded the counsel of the poore man because our Lord is his hope Who wil geue from Sion the saluation of Israel when our Lord shal haue turned away the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad ANNOTATIONS PSALME XIII 1. No not one S. Paul by this place and the like Isaie 59. v. 7. confirmeth his doctrin Rom. 3. that both the Iewes and the Gentils meaning al mankind were in that state that none no not one without the grace of Christ were iust nor could be iustified nor saued by the law of Nature nor of Moyses VVhich proueth the necessitie of faith But neither that only faith iustifieth nor that the iustest are stil wicked as Caluin and Beza falsly expound these Scriptures For the Prophets and S. Paul speake in these places of men before they be iustified teaching that al mankind was once in sinne and none could be iustified but by Christ Neuerthelesse they teach also that men being iustified must and may serue iustice vnto sanctification And that their workes are not then vnprofitable For being made free from sinne saith the same Apostle to the Romanes c. 6. and become seruants to God you haue your fru●ct vnto sanctification and the end is life euerlasting VVhich point of doctrin how man is iustified S. Augustin excellently briefly explicateth li. 1. de Spirituet lit c 9. in these wordes The iust are iustified freely by Christ his grace they are not therfore purified by the lavv they are not iustified by their proper wil but iustified freely by Christ his grace Not that it is done without our wil but by the law our wil is shevved weake that grace might cure the wil and the wil being cured might fulfil the law not being vnder the law not needing the law VVherto we may here adde and so saue labour of repeting this in other places an other document of the same Doctor in the same booke de spirit lit c 27. that the iust do not liue without some sinnes and yet remaine in state of saluation the wicked do sometimes certaine good workes ful remaine in state of damnation For euen as saith he venial sinnes without which this life it not ledde do not exclude the iust from eternal life so certaine good workes without which the life of the very worst is hardly found profite nothing the vniust man to eternal saluation but in euerlasting damnation some shal haue more and somelesse torment PSALME XIIII For attayning eternal glorie in heauen it is necessarie to flee from sinnes and do good workes † “ The Psalme of Dauid LORD who shal dwel in thy tabernacle or who shal rest in thy holie hil † He that walketh without spot and worketh iustice † He that speaketh truth in his d hart that hath not done guile in his tongue Nor hath done euil to his neighbour and hath not taken reproch against his neighbour The malignant is brought to nothing in his sight but them that feare our Lord he glorifieth he that sweareth to his neighbour and deceiueth not † that hath not geuen his money to vsurie and hath not taken k giftes vpon the innocent k Likewise doing wrong for bribes He that doeth “ these thinges shal “ not be moued for euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XIIII 1. The Psalme of Dauid As the appropriating of the general name of Psalme vnto some doth not preiudice but that the rest are also Psalmes though they be called Prayers Canticles Testimonies and the like so the application of Dauids name to certaine Psalmes proueth not other authores of the rest But the name of Psalme sheweth a spiritual songue apt for musical instrument and the name of Dauid by interpretation signifieth that it particularly perteyneth to the beloued 5. He that doth these thinges wheras this or anie other place of holie Scripture attributeth saluation to certaine good workes neither faith nor other workes are therby excluded but presupposed as no lesse necessarie then those which are mentioned Especially faith is alwayes requisite without which it is impossible to please God and other vertues either in practise or in purpose and preparation of mind when and where occasion requireth 5. Shal not be mou●d for euer Al states of this world are mutable and only eternal felicitie in heauen shal continew for euer Therfore this Psalme can not be vnderstood of the Tabernacle nor Temple of the old Testament which were but figures of eternal glorie But if so much puritie was then requisite much more al sinceritie and great sanctitie are necessarie for entrance into heauen PSALME XV. Christ by the mouth of Dauid declareth his future victory and triumph ouer the world 9. and death † The inscription of the title to Dauid him self PRESERVE me ô Lord because I haue hoped in thee † I haue said to our Lord Thou art my God because thou needest not my goods † To the sainctes that are in his land he hath made al my willes meruclous in them † Their infirmities were multiplied afterward they made hast I wil not assemble their conuenticles of bloud neither wil I be mindful of their names by my lippes † Our Lord “ the portion of myne inheritance and of my cuppe thou art he that wil restore myne inheritance vnto me † Cordes are fallen to me in goodly places for mine inheritance is goodlie vnto me † I wil blesse our Lord who hath geuen me vnderstanding moreouer also euen til night my veines haue rebuked me I forsaw our Lord in my sight alwaies because he is at my right hand that I be not moued † For this thing my hart hath beene glad and my tongue hath reioyced moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope † Because thou wilt “ not leaue my soule in hel neither wilt geue thy holie one to see corruption Thou hast made the waies of life knowen to me thou shalt make me ful of ioy with thy countenance delectations on thy right hand euen to the end ANNOTATIONS PSALME XV. 5. Out lord the portion of myn inheritance Christ whom the Iewes expected as an earthlie conquerour that should aduance himself and them temporally in this world was in dede as the
desiderable aboue al vvorldlie riches or pleasures So by these and like spiritual motiues the soule freely desiteth accepteth vndertaketh endureth and by continual assistance of grace obserueth Gods lavv and so meriteth the great revvard vvhich is promised for keping it v. 12. 2. Tim. 4. v. 6. PSALME XIX Faithful people ioyne their prayer for their Prince or Prelate 4. with sacrifice offered for his preseruation and prosperous successe † Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid OVR Lord heare thee in the day of tribulation the name of the God of Iacob protect thee † Send he ayde to thee from the holie place and from Sion defend he thee † Be he mindeful of al thy sacrifice and be thy holocaust made fatte † Geue he vnto thee according to thy hart and confirme he al thy counsel † We shal reioyce in thy saluation and in the name of our God we shal be magnified † Our Lord accomplish al thy petitions now haue I knowen that our Lord hath saued his CHRIST He shal heare him from his holie heauen the faluation of his righthand is in powers † These in chariotes and these in horses but we wil inuocate in the name of the Lord our God † They are bound and haue fallen but we haue risen and are set vpright † Lord saue the king and heare vs in the day that we shal inuocate thee PSALME XX. Praise to God for Christs exaltation after his passion 9. and depression of his enemies † Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid LORD in thy power the king shal be glad and vpon thy saluation he shal reioyce excedingly The desire of his hart thou hast geuen him and of the wil of his lippes thou hast not defrauded him † Because thou hast preuented him in blessinges of sweetnesse thou hast put on his head a crowne of pre●ious stone † He asked life of thee and thou gauest him length of daies for euer and for euer and euer † Great is his glorie in thy saluation glorie and great beautie thou shalt put vpon him † Because thou shalt geue him to be a blessing for euer and euer thou shalt make him ioyful in gladenesse with thy countenance Because the king hopeth in our Lord and in the mercie of the Highest he shal not be moued † Let thy hand be found of al thy enemies let thy righthand find al that hate thee † Thou shalt put them as an ouen of fyre in the time of thy countenance our Lord in his wrath shal truble them and fyre shal deuoure them Their fruite thou shalt destroy from the land and their seede from the children of men Because they haue turned the euils vpon thee they haue deuised counsels which they could not establish Because thou shalt put them backe in thy remnantes thou ●● shalt prepare their countenance Be exalted Lord in thy powre we wil chaunte and sing thy powers PSALME XXI Christ prayeth in his Passion 7. describeth the acerbitie therof 20. foresheweth by way of prayer his Resurection 23. more clerly the fundation and propagation of his Church 27. 30. interposing the singular foode of the most blessed Sacrament euen to the endes of the earth in al nations † Vnto the end “ for the morning enterprise the Psalme of Dauid GOD my God haue respect to me why hast thou forsaken me far from my saluation are the wordes of my sinnes My God I shal crie by day and “ thou wilt not heare and by night and not for follie vnto me † But thou dwellest in the holie place the prayse of Israel † In thee our fathers haue hoped they hoped and thou didst deliuer them They cried to thee and were saued they hoped in thee and were not confounded † But I am a worme and no man a reproch of men and outcast of the people † Al that see me haue scorned me they haue spoken with the lippes and wagged the head † He hoped in the Lord let him deliuer him let him saue him because he wil him † Because thou art he that hast drawen me out of the wombe my hope from the brestes of my mother † Vpon thee I haue bene cast from the matrice from my mothers wombe thou art my God † depart not from me Because tribulation is verie nigh because there is not that wil helpe † Manie calues haue compassed me fatte bulles haue besieged me † They haue opened their mouth vpon me as a lion rauening and roaring † As water I am powred out and al my bones are dispersed My hart is made as waxe melting in the middes of my bellie † My strength is withered as a pot-shard and my tongue cleaued to my iawes and thou hast brought me downe into the dust of death † Because manie dogges haue compassed me the counsel of the malignant hath besieged me They “ haue digged my handes and my feete † they haue numbered al my bones But themselues haue considered and beheld me † they haue deuided my garmentes among them and vpon my vesture they haue cast lot † But thou Lord prolong not thy helpe from me looke toward my defense † Deliuer ô God my soule from the sword and myne onlie one from the hand of the dog † Saue me out of the lions mouth and my humilitie from the hornes of vnicornes † “ I wil declare thy name to my bretheren “ in the middes of the Church I wil prayse thee † Ye that feare our Lord praise him al the seede of Iacob glorifie ye him † Let al the seede of Israel feare him because he hath not contemned nor despised the petition of the poore Neither hath he turned away his face from me and when I cried to him he heard me † With thee is my praise in the great Church I wil render my vowes in the sight of them that feare him † “ The poore shal eate and shal be filled and they shal praise our Lord that seeke after him their hartes shal liue for euer and euer † Al the endes of the earth shal remember and be conuerted to our Lord † And al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight † Because the kingdome is our Lords and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles † Al the fatte ones of the earth haue eaten and adored in his sight shal al fal that descend into the earth † And my soule shal liue to him and my seede shal serue him † The generation to come shal be shewed to our Lord and the heauens shal shew forth his iustice to the
art with me Thy rod and thy staffe they haue comforted me † Thou hast prepared in my sight a table against them that truble me Thou hast fatted my head with oyle and my chalice inebriating how goodlie is it † And thy mercie shal folow me al the dayes of my life And that I may dwel in the house of our Lord in longitude of dayes PSALME XXIII Christ is Lord of the whole earth being Creatour and Redemer of man 3. Good life with faith in him is the way to heauen 7. whither Christ ascending with triumph Angels admire him † The first of the Sabbath the Psalme of Dauid THE earth is our Lordes and the fulnesse therof the round world and al that dwel therein Because he hath founded it vpon the seas and vpon the riuers hath prepared it † Who shal ascend into the mount of our Lord or who shal stand in his holie place † The innocent of handes and of cleane hart that hath not taken his soule in vayne nor sworne to his neighbour in guile † He shal receiue blessing of our Lord and mercie of God his Sauiour † This is the generation of them that seeke him of them that seeke the face of the God of Iacob † Lift vp your gates ye princes and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates and the king of glorie shal enter in † Who is this king of glorie Our Lord strong mightie our Lord mightie in battel † Lift vp your gates ye princes and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates and the king of glorie shal enter in Who is this king of glorie The Lord of powers he is the king of glorie PSALME XXIIII A general prayer of the faithful against al enemies 4. with desire to be directed in the way of godlines 7. and to be pardoned for sinnes past 9. acknowledging Gods meeknes 17. our weaknes necessitie of helpe and hope in God 22. concludeth with prayer for the whole Church † Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid TO THEE ô Lord I haue lifted vp my soule † my God in thee is my confidence let me not be ashamed † Neither let mine enemies scorne me for al that expect thee shal not be confounded † Let al be confounded that do vniust thinges in vayne Lord shew me thy wayes and teach me thy pathes † Direct me in thy truth and teach me because thou art God my Sauiour and thee haue I expected al the day † Remember ô Lord thy commiserations and thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world † The sinnes of my youth and my ignorances doe not remember According to thy mercie remember thou me for thy goodnesse ô Lord. † Our Lord is sweete and righteous for this cause he wil geue a law to them that sinne in the way † He wil direct the milde in iudgement he wil teach the meeke his wayes † Al the wayes of our Lord be mercie and truth to them that seeke after his testament and his testimonies † For thy name ô Lord thou wilt be propitious to my sinne for it is much † Who is the man that feareth our Lord he appoynteth him a law in the way that he hath chosen † His soule shal abide in good things and his seede shal inherite the land † Our Lord is a firmament to them that feare him c. his testament that it may be made manifest to them † Myne eies are alwayes to our Lord because he wil plucke my fecte out of the snare † Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me because I am alone and poore † The tribulations of my hart are multiplied deliuer me from my necessities † See my humiliation and my labour and forgeue al my sinnes † Behold mine enemies because they are multiplied and with vniust hatred hated me † Keepe my soule and deliuer me I shal not be ashamed because I hoped in thee † The innocent and righteous haue cleaued to me because I expected thee † Deliuer Israel ô God out of al his tribulations PSALME XXV Dauid in banishment among the Philistimes trusteth in the iustice of his cause 9. and prayeth God earnestly to deliuer him that he may with more freedom and commodity serue him as he desireth † Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô Lord because I haue walked in my innocencie and hoping in our Lord I shal not be weakened † Proue me Lord and tempt me burne my reynes and my hart † Because thy mercie is before mine eies and I am wel pleased in thy truth † I haue not sitten with the councel of vanitie and with them that doe vniust thinges I wil not enter in † I “ haue hated the Church of the malignant and with the impious I wil not sitte † I wil wash my handes among innocentes and wil compasse thy altar ô Lord † That I may heare the voice of praise and shew forth al thy meruelous workes † Lord I haue loued the beautie of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie † Destroy not ô God my soule with the impious and my life with bloudie men † In whose handes are iniquities their righthand is replenished with giftes † But I haue walked in mine innocencie redeme me and haue mercie on me † My foote hath stood in the direct way in the Churches I wil blesse thee ô Lord. ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXV 5. I haue hated the Church of the malignant Holie Dauid forced by reason of persecution to dwel amongst Infidels the Philistians after he had twise spared king Saules life 1 Reg 24. v. 5. et c. 26. v. 9. lamented v. 19. how great affliction it was to him to be cast out that he could not a vvel in the inheritance of our Lord where God was rightly serued and that his enemies had done so much as in them lay to make him fal into idolatrie by their fact as it were saying ●o● serue strange goddes Neuertheles his zele was such that as he here professeth he hated the Church of the malignant that is the congregations of al miscreants his immaculate religious puritie was so perfect that he would not so much as in ex●e●●●l shew conforme his actions to theirs in matters of religion nor yeld his 〈◊〉 presence in their conuenticles but said VVith the impious I vvil not si●●● instructing vs Christians for the word to the end in the title sheweth that this 〈◊〉 perteyneth also to vs that we must both hate the Church or con-●●●● 〈◊〉 of the malignant to witte of Painims Iewes Turkes and Hererikes and ●●t ●i t●
alwaies corporally with vs Could anie of them tarie here til this time could they tarie to the time yet to come But vvas therfore the Church leaft desolate by their departure God forbid For thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee VVhat is this for thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee The Apostles were sent fathers in place of the Apostles sonnes are borne to thee Byshops are appointed For whence were the Bishops borne that are at this day through the vvorld the Church herselfe calleth them fathers ●he begate them and appointed them in the seates of the fathers Do not therfore thinke thy self desolate o christian Church because thou seest not Peter seest not Paul for thou seest not them by vvhom thou wast borne but of thyne issue fatherhood is sprong to thee For thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth This is the Catholique Church Her children are made princes ouer al the earth her sonnes are constituted for fathers Let them acknowlege this that are cut of let them come to the vnitie be they brought into the temple of the king Thus S. Augustin PSALME XLV The Church in persecution acknowledgeth Gods perpetual defence 5. making her therby more glorious 10. sometimes granting rest 11. God himself ckecking the persecuters and euer protecting her † Vnto the end to the sonnes of Core for the secretes OVR God is a refuge and strength an helper in tribulations which haue found vs excedingly † Therfore wil we not feare when the earth shal be trubled and mountaines transported into the hart of the sea † Their waters haue sounded and were trubled the mountaines were trubled in his strength † The violence of the riuer maketh the citie of God ioyful the Highest hath sanctified his tabernacle † God is in the middes therof it shal not be moued God wil helpe it in the morning early † Nations are trubled and kingdomes are inclined he gaue his voice the earth was moued † The Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our defender † Come ye and see the workes of our Lord what wonders he hath put vpon the earth † taking away warres euen vnto the end of the earth He shal destroy bow breake weapons and shields he shal burne with fire † Be quiet and see that I am God I shal be exalted among the gentiles and I shal be exalted in the earth † The Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our defender PSALME XLVI Gentiles are called and inuited to praise God for his magnificence 6. for Christs Ascension and powre † Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core ALYE Nations clappe handes make iubilation to God in the voyce of exultation † Because our Lord is high terrible a great king ouer al the earth † He hath made peoples subiect to vs gentiles vnder our feete † He hath chosen his inheritance in vs the beautie of Iacob which he loued † God is ascended in iubilation and our Lord in the voice of trumpet † Sing ye to our God sing ye Sing ye to our king sing ye † Because God is king of al the earth sing ye wisely † God shal reigne ouer the gentiles God sitteth vpon his holie seate † Princes of peoples are gathered together with the God of Abraham because the strong goddes of the earth are excedingly aduanced PSALME XLVII God most and euerie where laudable is especially praised in the Church of Christ prefigured by Sion and there begunne 9. Al thinges being fulfilled in the Church euen as they were prophecied and promised 12. the faithful are exhorted to consider and congratulate the same A Psalme of Canticle to the sonnes of Core the second of the Sabbath GREAT is our Lord and to be praysed excedingly in the citie of our God in his holie mount † Mount Sion is founded with the exultation of the whole earth the sides of the North the citie of the great king † God shal be knowen in the houses therof when he shal receiue it † For behold the kings of the earth were gathered together they assembled in one † They seing it so were in admiration were trubled were moued † trembling tooke them Their sorowes as a woman traueling † In a vehement spirit thou shalt breake the shippes of Tharsis † As we haue heard so haue we seene in the citie of the Lord of hostes in the citie of our God God hath founded it for euer † We haue receiued thy mercie ô God in the middes of thy temple † According to thy name ô God so also is thy prayse vnto the endes of the earth thy right hand is ful of iustice † Let mount Sion be glad and the daughters of Iuda reioyce because of thy iudgementes ô Lord † Compasse Sion and embrace ye her tel ye in her towers † Set your hartes on her strength and distribute ye her houses that you may declare it in an other generation † Because this is God our God for euer and for euer and euer he shal rule vs euermore PSALME XLVIII The royal prophet inuiting al states and sortes of men to heare him attentiuely 6 sheweth that al ought to feare eternal damnation that liue wickedly 9. vainly and foolishly seeking 13. euen like brute beastes carnal pleasures which they can not long enioy nor long escape hel 16. confidently animating him selfe and al good men that trust not in this world † Vnto the end to the sonnes of Core a Psalme HEARE these thinges al ye Gentiles receiue with your eares al ye that inhabite the earth † Al ye earthly persons and children of men together in one the rich and the poore † My mouth shal speake wisedom and the meditation of my hart prudence † I wil incline mine eare vnto a parable I wil open my proposition on a Psalter † Why shal I feare in the euil day the iniquitie of my heele shal compasse me † They that trust in their strength and glorie in the multitude of their riches † A brother doth not redeme man shal redeme he shal not geue vnto God his reconciliation † And the price of the redemption of his owne soule and he shal labour for euer † and shal liue yet vnto the end † He shal not see death when he shal see the wise dying the vnwise and the foole shal perish together And they shal leaue their riches to strangers † and their sepulchers their houses for euer Their Tabernacles in generation and generation they haue renowmed their names in their landes † And man when he was
in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them † This their way is a scandal to them and afterward in their mouth they shal take pleasure † As sheepe they are put in hel death shal feede vpon them And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning and their aide shal waxe old in hel from their glorie † Neuerthelesse God wil redeme my soule out of the hand of hel when he shal take me † Feare not when a man shal be made rich and when the glory of his house shal be multiplied † Because when he shal dye he shal not take al thinges neyther shal his glorie goe downe with him † Because his soule in his life shal be blessed he wil confesse to thee when thou shalt do him good † He shal enter in euen to the progenies of his fathers and he shal not see light for euer † Man when he was in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them PSALME XLIX Christ in his first coming calleth al Nations 3. in his second wil iudge the world 7. In the meane time God exhorteth al men to serue him in puritie of vertue which he much preferreth before external sacrifice of the old law 17. reprehending such as professe or teach the right way and liue wickedly † A Psalme to Asaph THE God of goddes our Lord hath spoken and he hath called the earth from the rysing of the sunne euen to the going downe † Out of Syon the beauty of his comelines † God wil come manifestly our God and he wil not kepe silence Fire shal burne forth in his sight and round about him a mighty tempest † He shal cal the heauen from aboue and the earth to discerne his people † Gather ye together his saincts vnto him which ordaine his testament aboue sacrifices † And the heauens shal shew forth his iustice because God is Iudge † Heare ô my people and I wil speake Israel and I wil testifie to thee God thy God am I. † I wil not rebuke thee in thy sacrifices and thy holocaustes are in my sight alwaies † I wil not take calues out of thy house nor buckegoats out of thy flockes † Because al the wilde beasts of the woods be myne the cattle in the mountaines and oxen † I haue knowne al the foules of the ayer and the beauty of the fielde is with me † If I shal be hungrie I wil not tel thee for the round earth is myne and the fulnes therof † Wil I eate the flesh of oxen or wil I drinke the blood of bucke goats † Immolate to God “ the sacrifice of praise and pay thy vowes to the Highest † And inuocate me in the day of tribulation I wil deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me † But to the sinner God hath sayde Why doest thou declare my iustices and takest my testament by thy mouth † But thou hast hated discipline cast my words behind thee † If thou didst see a theefe thou didst rune with him and with adulterers thou didst put thy portion † Thy mouth hath abounded with malice and thy tongue fourged guiles † Sitting thou spakest against thy brother and against thy mothers sonne thou didst put a scandal † these things hast thou done and I haue held my peace † Thou hast thought vniustly that I wil be like thee I wil reproue thee and set it against thy face † Vnderstand these things you that forget God lest sometime he take you violently and there be none to deliuer you † The “ sacrifice of prayse shal glorifie me and there is the way by which I wil shew him the saluation of God ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIX 14. 23. The sacrifice of praise For better and more due performing of external sacrifice it is requisite that those which offer it or desire to participate do bring with them necessarie internal vertues or disposition as sorow and repentāce for their sinnes which is a kind of improper sacrifice mentioned in the next Psalme the sacrifice of iustice which rendereth ro euerie one that is due Psal 4. and sacrifise of praise or thankes geuing for al Gods benefites receiued or expected which kindes of internal and improper sacrifices do nothing preiudice but rightly prepare men to the fruict of external sacrifice euer vsed in the law of nature the law of Moyses and of Christ This place also hath an other higher and prophetical sense of the Sacrifice of Christs bodie in the Eucharist which is both propitiatorie and Sacrifise of praise and thankes geuing So S. Augustin orat aduersus Iudeos c. 6. teacheth that here certainly is a plaine change of the old sacrifices The same he affirmeth Ep. 120. c. 18. God foreshewing that the old sacrifices should be changed which were offered in shadow of a sacrifice to come I wil not take faith God to Israel calues nor goares at thy hand c. but appointeth that al Israel al nations from the rysing of the sunne to the setting shal immolate the sacrifice of praise the same Christ whom old Simeon knew an infant whom he receiued into his handes Likewise li. contra aduers legis prophet c. 20. The Church offereth to God in the bodie of Christ the sacrifice of praise PSALME L. King Dauid in great sorow for his sinnes of adultrie and murder most seriously prayeth God of his manifold mercies to remitte and purge al his offences and paines due for them 12. to restore vnto him the grace of the Holie Ghost lost by his sinnes 15. that he may teach others as in deede his singular example may teach the whole world true penance 19. contrition of hart worthely to offer sacrifice for the whole Church † Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid † “ when Nathan the Prophet came to him after that he had sinned with Bethsabee 2. Reg. 12. HAVE mercie on me ô God according to thy great mercie And according to the multitude of thy commiserations take away myne iniquitie † “ Wash me more amply from mine iniquitie cleanse me from my sinne † Because I do know myne iniquitie and my sinne is before me alwaies † To thee onely haue I sinned and haue done euil before thee that thou mayst be iustified in thy words and mayst ouercome when thou art iudged † For behold “ I was conceiued in iniquities my mother conceiued me in sinnes † For behold thou hast loued truth the vncertaine and hidden thinges of thy wisdome thou hast made manifest to me † Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssope and I shal be clensed thou shalt wash me and I shal be made whiter then snow † To my hearing thou shalt
geue ioy and gladnes and the bones humbled shal reioyce † Turne away thy face from my sinnes and wipe away al mine iniquities † Create a cleane hart in me ô God and renew a right spirit in my u bowels † Cast me not away from thy face and thy Holie spirit take not from me † Render vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme me with the principal spirit † I Wil teach the vniust thy waies and the impious shal be conuerted to thee † Deliuer me from bloudes ô God the God of my saluation and my tongue shal exult for thy iustice † Lord thou 〈…〉 lt open my lippes my mouth shal shew forth thy prayse † Because if thou wouldest haue had sacrifice I had verily giuen it with holocaustes thou wilt not be delighted A “ sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit a contrite and humbled hait ô God thou wilt not despise Deale fauorably ô Lord in thy good wil with Sion that the walles of Ierusalem may be built vp Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of iustice oblations k holocaustes l then shal they lay calues vpon thyne altar ANNOTATIONS PSALME L. 2. VVhen Nathan came to Dauid As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Lord had vpon his repentance and confession taken away his sinne added neuertheles that because he had made the enimies of God to blaspheme his sonne should dye so Dauid knowing that more was required then only confession for that the bond of satisfaction remained after his sinnes were remitted persisted in penance praying lamenting and beseching God according to his great and mainfold mercies to take away his iniquitie albeit the prophet Nathan had now told him that our Lord had taken away his sinne because there yet remained temporal paine due for the same He prayeth also v. 4. that God wil vvash him more amply from his iniquitie and cleanse him from his sinne For albeit the guilt of mortal sinne be washed and taken away yet besides temporal punishment that is due the soule that was so polluted nedeth to be washed and cleansed from the euil habite or pronnes to fal againe gotten by the former custome or delectation in sinne 7. I VVas conceiued in iniquities An other reason why sinners after remission of al mortal sinnes neede to be washed and cleansed is because being borne in original sinne after remission therof there remaneth concupiscence that ●●riueth against vertue and inclineth to sinne from which we must pray and labour to be more and more washed and cleansed 19 Sacrifice Holie Scriptures make often comparison betwen two kindes of sacrifices preferring internal before external as more gratful to God And of spiritual sacrifices this of a contrite spirite is first in order and maketh the way to the sacrifice of iustice because iustice presupposeth repentance and finally succedeth sacrifice of praise and thankesgeuing PSALME LI. Holie Dauid inueigheth against wicked Doeg a traitor 7. prophecieth his ruine 10. and his owne exaltation Vnto the end vnderstanding to Dauid † when Doeg the Idumeite came and told Saul Dauid is come into the house of Achimelech 1. Reg. 22. VVHY doest thou glorie in malice which art mightie in iniquitie † Al the day hath thy tongue thought iniustice as a sharp rasor thou hast done guile † Thou hast loued malice more then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie † Thou hast loued al wordes of precipitation a deceitful tongue † Therfore Wil God destroy thee for euer he wil plucke thee out remoue thee out of thy tabernacle thy roote out of the land of the liuing † The iust shal see and feare and shal laugh at him and they shal say Behold the man that hath not put God for his helper But hath hoped in the multitude of his riches and hath preualed in his vanitie † But I as a fruitful oliue tree in the house of God haue hoped in the mercie of God for euer and for euer and euer † I wil confesse to thee for euer because thou hast done it and I wil expect thy name because it is good in the sight of thy saints PSALME LII As in the thirtenth Psalme Christs Incarnation is prophecied after that sinne abunded in the world so here is foreshewed that after general wickednes 5. Christ wil come to iudge the bad 7. and deliuer the good Vnto the end for Ma●leth vnderstandings of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God † They are corrupte and become abominable in iniquities there is not that doth good † God hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstādeth or seeketh after God † Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no there is not one Shal they not al know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as food of bread God they haue not inuocated there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was Because God hath dissipated the bones of them that please men they are confounded because God hath despised them Who wil geue out of Sion the saluation of Israel when God shal conuert the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad PSALME LIII Dauid in distresse crieth to God for helpe 6. considently trusting therin 8. and promising sacrifice of thankesgeuing † Vnto the end in songs vnderstanding for Dauid † when the Zipheites were come and said to Saul Is not Dauid hid with vs 1. Reg. 1. 23. 26. O GOD saue me in thy name and in thy strength iudge me † O God heare my prayer with thine eares receiue the words of my mouth † Because strāgers haue risen vp against me the strong haue sought my soule and they haue not set God before their eies † For behold God helpeth me and our Lord is the receiuer of my soule † Turne away the euils to mine enimies and in thy truth destroy them † I wil voluntarily sacrifice to thee and wil confesse to thy name ô Lord because it is good † Because thou hast deliuered me out of al tribulation and mine eie hath looked downe vpon mine enimies PSALME LIIII The prophet as wel in his owne as other iust mens person describeth great calamities suffered 10. prayeth against the wicked 13. lamenting especially that those which professe frendshipe are aduersaries 17. and declareth Gods prouidence in protecting the good and destroying the bad Vnto the end in songes vnderstanding to Dauid HEARE my prayer ô God despise not my petition † Attend to me and heare me † I am made sorowful in my exercise and am trubled at the voice of the enimie
these two things haue I heard † That powre is Gods and mercie ô Lord is to thee because thou wilt render to euery one according to his workes PSALME LXII Dauid in banishment with great affection desireth to vnite himselfe with God in meditation 4. purposing and promising euer to praise him 10. prophicieth the vaine endeuoures and condemnation of his enimies and his owne aduancement A Psalme of Dauid when he was in the desert of Iuda 1. Reg. 22. O GOD my God to thee I watch from the morning light My soule hath thirsted to thee my flesh to thee very manie wayes † In a desert land and inaccessible and without water so in the holie haue I appeared to thee that I might see thy strength and thy glorie † Because thy mercie is better then liues my lippes shal prayse thee † So wil I blesse thee in my life and in thy name I wil lifte vp my hands † As with marrow and fatnes let my soule be filled and my mouth shal praise with lippes of exultation † If I haue bene mindful of thee vpon my bedde in the morning I Wil meditate on thee † because thou hast bene my helper † And in the couert of thy winges I wil reioice my soule hath cleaued after thee thy right hand hath receiued me † But they in vaine haue sought my soule they shal enter into the inferiour partes of the earth † They shal be deliuered into the handes of the sworde they shal be the portions of foxes † But the king shal reioice in God al shal be praised that sweare by him because the mouth is stopped of those that speake wicked thinges PSALME LXIII A prayer of the iust reposing their whole trust in God 7. and reioycing that the enimies machinations are frustrate Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid HEARE ô God my prayer when I make petition from the feare of my enimie deliuer my soule † Thou hast protected me from the assemblie of the malignant from the multitude of them that worke iniquitie † Because they haue sharpned their tongues as a sworde they haue bent the bow a bitter thing † that they may shoote in secretes at the immaculate † Sodanely they wil shoote at him and wil not feare they haue confirmed to themselues a wicked worde They haue talked to hide snares they haue saide who shal see them † They haue search 〈…〉 they haue failed searching with scrutani● † Man shal come to a 〈…〉 and God shal be exalted Childrens arrowes are made their woundes † and their tongues are weakned against them Al that saw them were trubled † and euerie man feared And they shewed forth the workes of God and they vnderstood his doinges † The iust shal reioice in our Lord and shal hope in him and al the right of hart shal be praised PSALME LXIIII. God is rightly praised in Sion and I erusalem in his Church only for his benefites bestowed and promised 8. Vnto which also in the time of grace al nations shal be called To the end a Psalme of Dauid the Canticle of Ieremie and Ezechiel to the people of the transmigration when they begane to goe forth AN hymne ô God becometh thee in Sion a vow shal be rendered to thee in Ierusalem † Heare my prayer al flesh shal come to thee The wordes of the wicked haue preuailed vpon vs and thou wilt be propitious to our impieties Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken he shal dwel in thy courtes † We shal be replenished in the goods of thy house holie is thy temple meruelous in equitie † Heare vs ô God our sauiour the hope of al the ends of the earth and in the sea farre † Preparing mountanes in thy strength girded with might which trublest the depths of the sea the sound of the waues therof † The Gentiles shal be trubled and they that inhabite the borders shal be affraide of thy signes the outegoinges of the morning and euening thou shalt delight † Thou hast visited the earth and hast inebriated it thou hast multiplied to inrich it The riuer of God is replenished with waters thou hast prepared their meat because so is the preparation therof † Inebriate her riuers multiplie her fruites in her dropps she shal reioyce springing † Thou “ wilt blesse the crowne of the yeare of thy goodnes and thy fildes shal be replenished with plentie † The u beautiful places of the desert shal be fat and the litle hilles shal be girded aboute with exultation The rammes of the shepe are clothed and the valleis shal abounde with corne they wil crie yea they wil say an hyme ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXIIII. 12. God vvil blesse the crovvne Vnder the Allegorie of the land of Iurie vvherunto the people of God vvere to be restored after their captiuitie in Babylon the Psalmist here prophecieth greater thinges then can be verified of the temporal state of the Iewes that the militant Church shal stil be blessed from the beginning to the end yelding expected fruict and al the iust that perseuere to the end of their liues shal receiue most happie and glorious revvardes of their laboures As S. Paul after his meritorious trauels confidently expected his glorious revvard vvhen he saide 2. Tim. 4. I haue fought a good fight I haue consummate my course I haue kept my faith Concerning the rest there is layde vp for me a Crovvne of iustice vvhich our Lord vvil render to me in that day a iust Iudge And not only to me but to them also that loue his coming And this is called the crovvne of the yeare of Gods benignitie because God of his ovvne benignitie vvithout mans former desert geueth grace and in the end for merite folovving geueth a crovvne of glorie So our Blessed Sauiour according to his fulnes of grace vvhich vvas in his soule and infinite merite receiued a crovvne of glorie in the consummation of his temporal life after the space of thirtie three yeares And our Blessed Ladie the mother of God receiued an ansvverable crovvne to her excellent grace and merites in the consummation of her life at the end of sixtie three yeares In memorie of vvhich numbers of yeares deuout men haue piously instituted certaine formes of prayers called the Crovvnes or Corones of our Sauiour and of our Ladie PSALME LXV The prophet inuiteth al men to praise God for his meruelous workes and benefites donne to the Iewes 7. Who being vngratful 8. Gentiles are called 16. and bring forth better fruict Vnto the end a Canticle of resurrection MAke ye iubilation to God al the earth † say a psalme to his name geue glorie to his praise †
to God † Ye kingdomes of the earth sing to God sing to our Lord † Sing ye to God that mounteth vpon the heauen of heauen to the East Behold he wil giue to his voice the voice of strength † giue you glorie to God vpon Israel his magnificence and his powre in the cloudes † God is meruelous in his saintes the God of Israel he wil giue powre and strength to his people God be blessed ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXVII 16. The mountaine of God For better discerning the true Church from other congregations the Prophet here describeth certaine proprieties therof for he calleth it a mountane because it is most visible to al men Secondly a fatte mountane that is replenished vvith al vertues and giftes of the Holie Ghost vvherof it is called Holie Thirdly it is crudded or consolidated in vnitie of faith and Religion vvhich conioyne the vvhole bodie making it solide and firme as the ruen turneth liquide milke into curde and so into cheese Fourtly it is the Congregation vvherin God alvvayes remaneth euen to the end for euer vvhich shevveth tvvo other proprieties that the Church neuer faileth nor erreth in doctrin God stil dvvelling therin and consequently conserueth it from error in doctrin 17. VVhy suppose you crudded montaines As for other congregations it is certaine and euident that they are not the Church of God because they are not crudded that is not vnited in the same pointes of faith but only in negatiue pointes and in general opposition against the Catholique Church and among themselues notoriously disagreing and diuided As they also vvant the other markes of the true Church PSALME LXVIII Christ in middes of afflictions as one in dangerous waters 5. describing the malice of persecutors and his owne true zele 14. prayeth his heauenlie Father for helpe 23. By way of iust imprecation forsheweth the seuere punishment of his aduersaries 30. his owne glorious Resurrection and prosperous building of his Church For which he inuiteth al creatures to praise God Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to Dauid SAVE me ô God because waters are entered into my soule † I sticke fast in the myre of the depth and there is no sure standing I am come into the depth of the sea and a tempest hath ouerwhelmed me † I haue labored crying my iawes are made hoarse my eies haue failed whiles I hope in my God † They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head that hate me without cause Mine enimies are made strong that haue persecuted me vniustly then did I pay the thinges that I tooke not † O God thou knowest my foolishnes and mine offences are not hide from thee † Let them not be ashamed vpon me which expect thee ô Lord Lord of hostes Let them not be confounded vpon me that seeke thee ô God of Israel † Because for thee haue I sustained reproch confusion hath couered my face † I am become a forener to my brethren and a stranger to the sonnes of my mother † Because the zele of thy house hath eaten me and the reproches of them that reproched thee fel vpon me † And I couered my soule in fasting and it was made a reproch to me And I put heare cloth my garment I became a parable to them † They spake aganst me that sat in the gate and they soong aganst me that dranke wine † But I my prayer to thee ô Lord a time of thy good pleasure ô God In the multitude of thy mercie heare me in the truth of thy saluation † Deliuer me out of the myre that I stick not fast deliuer me from them that hate me and from the depthes of waters † Let not the tempest of water drowne me nor the depth swallowe me neyther let the pit shut his mouth vpon me † Heare me ô Lord because thy mercie is benigne according to the multitude of thy commiserations haue respect to me † And turne not away thy face from thy seruant because I am in tribulation heare me speedily † Attend to my soule and deliuer it because of mine enimies deliuer me † Thou knowest my reproch my confusion my shame † In thy sight are al they that afflict me my hart hath looked for reproch and miserie And I expected some bodie that would be sorie together with me and there was none and that would confort me and I founde not † And they gaue gal for my meate in my thirst they gaue me vinegre to drinke † Let their table be made a snare before them for retributions and for a scandal † Let Their eies be darkned that they see not and make their backe crooked alwaies Poure out thy wrath vpon them and let the furie of thy wrath ouertake them Let their habitation be made desert and in their tabernacles let there be none to dwel Because whom thou hast striken they haue persecuted and vpon the sorrow of my wounds they haue added † Adde thou iniquitie vpon their iniquitie and let them not enter into thy iustice † Let them be put out of the booke of the liuing and with the iust let them not be written I am poore and sorowful thy saluation ô God hath receiued me † I wil praise the name of God with canticle and wil magnifie him in prayse † And it shal please God more then a young calfe that bringeth forth hornes and hoofes † Let the poore see and reioyce seeke ye God and your soule shal liue † Because our Lord hath heard the poore and he hath not despised his prisoners † Let the heauens and earth praise him the sea and al the creeping beastes in them † Because God wil saue Sion and the cities of Iuda shal be built vp And they shal inhabite there by inheritance they shal get it † And the seede of his seruants shal possesse it and they that loue his name shal dwel in it PSALME LXIX An other prayer of Dauid when he was persecuted by Absolom made in a Psalme after his deliuerie Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid in remembrance that our Lord saued him O God intend vnto my helpe Lord make hast to helpe me † Let them be confounded and be ashamed that seeke my soule † Let them be turned away backeward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them be turned away forthwith ashamed that say to me Wel wel † Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad in thee and let them say alwayes Our Lord be magnified which loue thy saluation † But I am needie and poore ô God helpe me thou art my helper and deliuerer ô Lord be not slacke PSALME LXX King Dauid or anie other iust person prayeth God to
the world haue obtained riches † And I saide Then haue I iustified my hart without cause and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes † And haue bene scourged al the day and my chastising in the morninges † If I saide I wil speake this behold I reproued the nation of thy children † I thought to know this thing it is labour before me † Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes † But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them thou hast cast them downe whiles they were eleuated † How are they brought into desolation they haue failed sodanely they haue perished for their iniquitie † As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord in thy citie thou shalt bring their image to nothing † Because my hart is inflamed and my reynes are changed And I am brought to nothing and knew not † As a beast am I become with thee and I alwaies with thee † Thou hast helde my right hand and in thy wil thou hast conducted me and with glorie thou hast receiued me † For what is to me in heauen and besides thee what would I vpon the earth † My flesh hath fainted and my hart God of my hart and God my portion for euer For behold they that make them selues faire from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed al that fornicate from thee † But it is good for me to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord God That I may shew forth al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion PSALME LXXIII Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning besecheth God to respect his owne inheritance cruelly afflicted ●● and leift long without helpe 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name Vnderstanding to Asaph VVHY hast thou ô God repelled for euer is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture Be mindful of thy congregation which thou hast possessed from the beginning Thou hast redemed the rod of thine inheritan●●e mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt † Lift vp thy handes vpon their prides for euer how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place † And they that hate thee haue gloried in the middes of thy solemnitie They haue sette their signes for signes † and haue not knowne as in the issue on high As in a wood of trees they haue with axes † cut out the gates therof together in hatchet and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe † They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth † Their kinred together haue saide in their hart Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth † Our signes we haue not seene there is now no prophet and he wil know vs no more † How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer † Why doest thou turne away thy hand and thy right hand out of the middes of thy bosome for euer † But God our king before the worldes he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth † Thou in thy strength hast confirmed the sea thou hast crushed the head of Dragons in the waters † Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of the Aethiopians † Thou hast broken vp fountanes and torrentes thou hast dried the riuers of Ethan † The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast made the morning and the sunne † Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth the summer and the spring thou hast formed them † Be mindeful of this the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name † Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer † Haue respect vnto thy testament because they that are obscure of the earth are filled with houses of iniquities † Let not the humble be turned away being confounded the poore and needy shal praise thy name † Arise God iudge thy cause be mindful of those thy reproches that are from the foolish man al the day † Forget not the voices of thine enimies the pride of them that hate thee hath ascended alwaies PSALME LXXIIII Christ with his Assessors wil iudge the whole world at the last day in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement 1● The wicked shal be punished and the good rewarded Vnto the end Corrupt not a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph VVE wil confesse to thee ô God we wil confesse and wil inuocate thy name We wil tel thy meruelouse workes † when I shal take a time I wil iudge iustices † The earth is melted and al that dwel in it I haue confirmed the pillers thereof † I said to the wicked doe not wickedly and to them that offend Exalt not the horne † Exalt not your horne on high speake not iniquitie aganst God † For neither from the East nor from the West nor from the desert mountanes † because God is Iudge This man he humbleth and him he exalteth † because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture And he hath powred it out of this into that but yet the dregges therof are not emptied al the sinners of the earth shal drinke † But I wil shewforth for euer I wil sing to the God of Iacob † And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted PSALME LXXV The royal prophet singeth Gods praises for his particular prouidence towards the Iewes 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth Vnto the end in prayses a Psalme to Asaph a Canticle to the Assirians God is knowne in Iewrie in Israel his name is great † And his place is made in peace and his habitation in Sion † There he brake the powres of bowes the shilde the sword and the battle † Thou doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal mountaynes † al the foolish of hart were trubled † They slept their sleepe and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes † At thy reprehension ô God of Iacob they haue al slumbered that mounted on horses † Thou art terrible and who shal resist thee from that time thy wrath † From heauen thou hast made thy iudgement hearde the earth trembled and was quiet When God arose vnto iudgement
Ammon and Amalec the for eners with the inhabitantes of Tyre † Yea and Assur also is come with them they are made an aide to the children of Lot † Doe to them as to Madian and Sisara as to Iabin in the torrent Cisson † They perished in Endor they were made as the dung of the earth † Put their princes as Oreb and Zeb and Zebee and Salmana Al their princes † which haue saide Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance † My God put them as a wheele and as stubble before the face of the winde † Euen as fire that burneth a wood as a flame that burneth the mountaines † So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them † Fil their faces with ignominie and they wil seeke thy name ô Lord. † Let them be ashamed and trubled for euer and euer and let them be confounded and perish † And let them know that Lord is thy name thou onlie the Highest in al the earth PSALME LXXXIII Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie 6. accounting it in the meane time a happie state to be in the militant Church 12. where God first geuing grace wil geue glorie in the triumphant † Vnto the end for wine presses t the children of Core a Psalme HOW beloued are thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes † my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the courtes of our Lord. My hart and my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God † For the sparow also hath found her an house and the turtledoue a nest for her selfe where she may lay her young ones Thine altars ô Lord of hoastes my King and my God † Blessed are they that dwel in thy house ô Lord for euer and euer they shal praise thee † Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee he hath disposed ascension in his hart † in the vaile of teares in the place which he hath appointed † For the lawgeuer shal geue blessing they shal goe from vertue into vertue the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion † Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob † Behold ô God our protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ † Because better is one day in thy courtes aboue thousands I haue chosen to be an abiect in the house of my God rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners † Because God loueth mercie and truth our Lord wil geue grace and glorie † He wil not depriue them of good thinges that walke in innocencie ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man that hopeth in thee PSALME LXXXIIII With commemoration of Gods former benefites 5. Christs Incarnation is prophecied 9. bringing peace and saluation 11. mercie and iustice concurring together Vnto the end to the children of Core a Psalme O Lord thou hast blessed thy land thou hast turned away the captiuitie of Iacob † Thou hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes † Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation † Conuert vs ô God our sauiour and auert thy wrath from vs. † Wil t thou be wrath with vs for euer or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation † O God thou being turned shalt quicken vs and thy people shal reioyce in thee † Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation † I wil heare what our Lord God wil speake in me because he wil speake peace vpon his people And vpon his saincts and vpon them that are conuerted to the hart † But yet his saluation is nigh to them that feare him that glorie may inhabite in our land † Mercie and truth haue met each other iustice and peace haue kissed † Truth is risen out of the earth and iustice hath looked downe from heauen † For our Lord certes wil geue benignitie and our land shal giue her fruite † Iustice shal walke before him and shal set his steppes in the way PSALME LXXXV In consideration of his owne imperfections the royal prophet or other faithful person prayeth God 5. according to his mercie and goodnes 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies † A praier to Dauid him selfe Incline thine eare ô Lord and heare me because I am needie and poore † Keepe my soule because I am holie saue thy seruant my God that hopeth in thee † Haue mercie on me ô Lord because I haue cried to thee al the day † make ioyful the soule of thy seruant because to thee ô Lord haue I lifted vp my soule † Because thou ô Lord art swete and milde and of much mercie to al that inuocate thee † Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears and attend to the voice of my petition † In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee because thou hast heard me † There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord and there is not according to thy workes † Al nations what soeuer thou hast made shal come and shal adore before thee ô Lord and they shal glorifie thy name † Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges thou onlie art God † Conduct me ô Lord in thy way and I wil walke in thy truth let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name † I wil confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart and wil glorifie thy name for euer † Because thy mercie is great vpon me and thou hast deliuered my soule out of the lower hel † O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule and they haue not set thee in their sight † And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful patient and of much mercie and true † Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me giue thine empire to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handmaide † Make with me a signe vnto God that they may see which hate me and may be confounded because thou ô Lord hast holpen me PSALME LXXXVI The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem 3. is extended to al Nations 5. glorious 6. and permanent 7. in holie ioy To the children of Core a Psalme of Canticle THE fundations thereof in the holie mountaynes † our Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue al the tabernacles of Iacob † Glorious thinges
planted the eare shal he not heare Or he that made the eie doth he not consider † He that chastiseth nations shal he not rebuke he that teacheth man knowledge † Our Lord knoweth the cogitations of men that they be vaine † Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct ô Lord and shalt ●each out of thy lawe † That thou maist geue him quietnes from the euil daies til a pitte be digged for the sinner † Because our Lord wil not reiect his people and his inheritance he wil not forsake † Vntil iustice be turned into iudgement and they who are neere it are al that are right of hart † Who shal rise for me against the malignant or who shal stand with me against them that worke iniquitie † But that our Lord hath holpen me within very litle my soule had dwelt in hel † If I said My foote is moued thy mercie ô Lord did help me † According to the multitude of my sorrowes in my hart thy consolations haue made my soule ioyful † Doth the seat of iniquitie cleaue to thee which makest labour in precept † They wil hunt after the soule of the iust and wil condemne innocent bloud And our Lord became my refuge and my God the helpe of my hope † And he wil repay them their iniquitie and in their malice he wil destroy them the Lord our God wil destroy them PSALMES XCIIII An inuitation to serue and adore Christ our Lord and Messias 3. aswel for the benefites of creating al thinges 7. as for his Incarnation and not to harden our hartes as the Iewes did Praise of Canticle to Dauid him selfe COME let vs reioyce to our Lord let vs make iubilation to God our sauiour † Let vs preuent his face in confession and in Psalmes let vs make iubilation to him † Because our Lord is a great God and a great King aboue al goddes † Because in his hand are the endes of the earth and the heightes of the mountaines be his † Because the sea is his and he made it and his handes formed the drie land † Come let vs adore and fal downe and wepe before our Lord that made vs. † Because he is the Lord our God and we the people of his pasture and the shepe of his hand † To day if ye shal heare his voice “ harden not your hartes † As in the prouocation according to the day of the tentation in the desert where your fathers tempted me proued me and saw my workes † Fourtie years was I offended with that generation and said These alwaies erre in hart † And these haue not knowne my waies as I sware in my wrath if they shal enter into my rest ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIIII 8. Harden not your hartes VVhatsoeuer God proposeth by preaching or inspiration to a sinner it resteth stil in the powre of his freewil to harden his harte and to reiect al such good motions and so he doth not only frustrate Gods grace and hinder his owne iustification but also increaseth his former sinnes But by not resisting when deliberating therupon he could resist he disposeth himselfe and cooperateth to first iustification And therfore the royal Prophet here admonisheth and earnestly exhorteth al men to do this which God hath put in our powre not to harden our owne hartes when we heare his voice by resisting and reiecting his grace freely offered without al merite of our part PSALME XCV Al peoples nations are inuited to praise the blessed Trinitie 3. for Christs Incarnation and spiritual kingdom in al the world ●● euen sensles creatures acknowledging his maiestie 13. and iudicial powre A Canticle to Dauid * himselfe when the house was built after the captiuitie SING ye to our Lord a new song sing to our Lord al the earth † Sing ye to our Lord and blesse his name shewforth his saluation from day to day † Shewforth his glorie among the Gentiles his meruelous workes in al peoples † Because our Lord is great and exceeding laudable he is terrible aboue al goddes † Because al the goddes of the Gentiles are diuels but our Lord made the heauens † Confession and beauty in his sight holinesse and magnificence in his sanctification † Bring to our Lord ye families of Gentiles bring ye to our Lord glorie and honour † bring to our Lord glorie vnto his name Take vp hoastes and enter into his courtes † adore ye our Lord in his holie court Let al the earth be moued before his face † say ye among the Gentiles that our Lord hath reigned For he hath corrected the round world which shal not be moued he wil iudge peoples in equitie † Let the heauens be glad and the earth reioyce the sea be moued and the fulnesse therof † the fieldes shal be glad and al things that are in them Then shal the trees of the woodes reioyce † before the face of our Lord because he cometh because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round world in equitie and peoples in his truth PSALME XCVI Al the earth is inuited to reioyce in Christs kingdom 3. with description of the signes coming before the day of Iudgement 7. Idolaters shal be confounded 8. Holie Angels and iust men shal adore Christ and reioyce To this Dauid when his land was restored agane to him OVR Lord hath reigned let the earth reioyce let manie Ilands be glad † Cloude and mist round about him iustice and iudgement the correction of his seat † Fire shal goe before him and shal inflame his enimies round about † His lightninges shined to the round world the earth sawe and was moued † The mountaines melted as waxe before the face of our Lord before the face of our Lord al the earth † The heauens haue shewed forth his iustice and al peoples haue seene his glorie † Let them al be confounded that adore sculptils and that glorie in their idoles Adore him al ye his Angels † Sion heard and was glad And the daughters of Iuda reioyced because of thy iudgements ô Lord. † Because thou Lord most high ouer al the earth thou art exalted excedingly aboue al goddes † You that loue our Lord hate ye euil our Lord keepeth the soules of his saintes out of the hand of the sinner he wil deliuer them † Light is risen to the iust and ioy to the right of hart † Be glad ye iust in our Lord and confesse ye to the memorie of his sanctification PSALME XCVII Al men are againe inuited ioyfully to celebrate the meruelous conquest of Christ in al nations 4. with hart voice and instruments 8. al creatures acknowledging his coming to iudge the world A psalme to Dauid himselfe SING ye
to our Lord a new song because he hath done meruelous thinges His righthand hath wrought saluation to himselfe and his arme is holie † Our Lord hath made knowne his saluation in the sight of the Gentiles he hath reueled his iustice † He hath remembred his mercie and his truth to the house of Israel Al the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God † Make ye iubilation to God al the earth chaunt and reioyce and sing † Sing to our Lord on harpe on harpe and voice of psalme † on long drawen trumpets and voice of cornet of horne Make iubilation in the sight of the king our Lord † let the sea be moued and the fulnes therof the round world and they that dwel therin † The riuers shal clappe with hand the mountaynes together shal reioyce † at the sight of our Lord because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round earth in iustice and the peoples in equitie PSALME XCVIII Christ reigneth notwithstanding his enimies repine is adored 5. also his footestoole 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate A Psalme to Dauid himselfe OVR Lord hath reigned let peoples be angrie he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs let the earth be moued † Our Lord great in Sion and high aboue al peoples † Let them confesse to thy great name because it is terrible and holie † And the honour of the king loueth iudgement Thou hast prepared directions thou hast done iudgement and iustice in Iacob † Exalt ye the Lord our God and “ adore his footstoole because it is holie † Moyses and Aaron in his priestes and Samuel among them that inuocate his name They inuocated our Lord and he heard them † in a piller of a cloud he spake to them They kept his testimonies the precept which he gaue them † O Lord our God thou heardest them God thou wast propitious to them and taking vengeance vpon al their inuentions Exalt ye the Lord our God and adore ye in his holie mount because the Lord our God is holie ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIX 5. Adore his footestoole For so much as al Expositors also the Hebrevv Rabbins affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias that should redeme mankind and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ but vvas only a figure of him the footestoole of Messias here mentioned must nedes be something perteyning to him and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration not only of the shorte time he conuersed vvith men in this life vvhen very fevv adored him the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist Which S Ambrose teacheth lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto c. 12. in these plaine vvordes By the footstoole must be vnderstood the earth by the earth the flesh of Christ VVhich vve also at this day adore in the Mysteries and vvhich the Apostles adored in our Lord Iesus S. Augustin more largely vpon this Psalme I am made doubtful saith he I feare to adore the earth lest he condeme me that made heauen and earth Againe I feare not to adore the footstoole of my Lord because the Psalme saith to me Adore his footstoole I seeke vvhat is his footstoole and the Scripture Isaiae 66. telleth me the earth is his footstoole Doubtful I turne myself vnto Christ because I seeke him here and I finde hovv vvithout impietie the earth may be adored vvithout impietie his footstoole may be adored For he tooke earth of earth because flesh is of earth and he tooke flesh of the flesh of the B. virgin Marie And because he vvalked here in the same flesh and gaue the very flesh to vs to eate vnto saluation and no man eateth that flesh onles he first adore it it is found hovv such a footstoole of our Lord may be adored and not only vve doe not sinne in adoring but vve should sinne in not adoring Thus farre S. Augustin Further instructing not to cōce●ue of Christs flesh as ●he Capharnaites did that he would cute it in peeces from his bodie and geue them portions therof His very flesh is geuen and eaten not in fleshlie maner but in sacramental See Annotations Ioan. 6. PSALME XCIX Al are inuited to reioyce in God Creator of al. A Psalme in confession MAKE ye iubilation to God al the earth serue ye our Lord in gladnesse Enter ye in before his sight in exultation † Know ye that our Lord he is God he made vs and not we ourselues His people and the sheepe of his pasture † enter ye into his gates in confession his courtes in hymnes confesse ye to him Praise ye his name † because our Lord is sweete his mercie for euer and his truth euen vnto generation and generation PSALME C. King Dauid gratfully celebrateth the two general diuine vertues Mercie and Iustice 2. by his owne example exhorteth al especially Superiors to direct their wayes in sinceritie 4. and to seperate the wicked from conuersation of the good A Psalme to Dauid himselfe MERCIE and iudgement I wil sing to thee ● Lord I wil sing † and I shal vnderstand in the immaculate way when thou shalt come to me I walked through in the inocencie of my hart in the middes of my house † I did not propose before mine eies any vniust thing I hated them that do preuarication † A peruerse hart hath not cleaued to me the malignant declining from me I knew not † One secretly detracting from his neighbour him did I persecute One of a proud eye and vnsatiable hart with him I did not eate † Mine eies are towards the faithful of the earth that they may sit with me A man that walketh in the immaculate way he did minister to me † He that doth proudly shal not dwel in the middes of my house he that speaketh vniust thinges hath not directed in the sight of mine eies † In the morning did I kil al the sinners of the earth that I might destroy out of the citie of our Lord al those that worke iniquitie PSALMES CI. A sinner in affliction of mind prayeth God to deliuer him 10. desolate of al other helpe 13. conceiueth comforth in Gods eternal goodnes and singular mercie in redeming mankind and propagating the Church 24. Prayeth to be made mature in vertue before he dye that he may liue with God 26. who only and wholly being immutable establisheth his seruantes for euer The prayer of the poore when he shal be anxious and shal make his petition before our Lord. LORD heare my prayer and let my crie come to thee † Turne not away thy face from me in what
day soeuer I am in tribulation incline thine eare to me In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me speedely † Because my dayes haue vanished as smoke and my bones are withered as a drie burnt firebrand † I am striken as grasse and my hart is withered because I haue forgotten to eate my bread † For the voyce of my groning my bone hath cleaued to my flesh † I am become like a pellicane of the wildernes I am become as a nightcrow in the house † I haue watched and am become as a sparow solitarie in the housetoppe † Al the day did mine enemies vpbrayde me and they that praysed me sware against me † Because I did eate ashes as bread mingled my drinke with weeping † At the face of thy wrath and indignation because lifting me vp thou hast throwne me downe † My daies haue declined as a shadow and I am withered as grasse † But thou ô Lord endurest for euer and thy memorial in generation and generation † Thou rysing vp shal haue mercie on Sion because it is time to haue mercie on it because the time cometh † Because the stones therof haue pleased thy seruantes and they shal haue pittie on the earth therof † And the Gentiles shal feare thy name ô Lord and al the kinges of the earth thy glorie † Because our Lord hath built Sion and he shal be seene in his glorie † He hath had respect to the prayer of the humble and he hath not despised their petition † Let these thinges be written vnto an other generation and the people that shal be created shal praise our Lord. † Because he hath looked forth from his high holie place our Lord from heauen hath looked vpon the earth † That he might heare the gronings of the fettered that he might loose the children of them that are slayne † That they may shewforth the name of our Lord in Sion and his praise in Ierusalem † In the assembling of the people together in one and kinges to serue our Lord. † He answered him in the way of his strength Shew me the fewnes of my daies † Cal me not backe in the halfe of my daies thy yeares are vnto generation and generation † In the beginning ô Lord thou didst found the earth and the heauens are the workes of thy hands † They shal perish but thou art permanent and they shal al waxe old as a garment And as a vesture thou shalt change them and they shal be changed † but thou art the selfe same and thy yeares shal not faile † The children of thy seruantes shal inhabite and their seede shal be directed for euer PSALME CII Thankes to God for priuate 6. and publike benefites 17. His mercie iustice and other proprieties are immutable 20. Angels and al other creatures are inuited to praise him † To Dauid himself MY soule blesse thou our Lord and al thinges that are within me his holie name † My soule blesse thou our Lord and forget not al his retributions † Who is propitious to al thine iniquities who healeth al thine infirmities † Who redemeth thy life from deadly falling who crowneth thee in mercie and commiserations † Who replenisheth thy desire in good thinges “ thy youth shal be rewed as the eagles † Our Lord doth mercies and iudgement to al that suffer wrong † He made his waies knowne to Moyses his willes to the children of Israel † Our Lord is pitieful and merciful long suffering and very merciful † He wil not be angrie alwayes neither wil he threaten for euer † He hath not done to vs according to our sinnes neither according to our iniquities hath he rewarded vs. † For according to the height of heauen from the earth hath he strengthned his mercie vpon them that feare him † As far as the East is distant from the West hath he made our iniquities far from vs. † As a father hath compassion of his children so hath our † Lord compassion on them that feare him † because he hath knowen our making He remembred that we are dust † man his daies are as grasse as the floure of the filde so shal he florish † Because the spirit shal passe in him and he shal not stand and he shal know his place no more † But the mercie of our Lord from euerlasting and vnto euerlasting vpon them that feare him And his iustice is vpon the childrens children to them that keepe his testament † And are mindful of his commandmentes to doe them † Our Lord hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kindom shal haue dominion ouer al. † Blesse our Lord al ye his Angels mightie in powre doing his word that feare the voice of his wordes † Blesse our Lord al ye his hoastes you his ministers that doe his wil. † Blesse ye our Lord al his workes in euerie place of his dominion my soule blesse thou our Lord. ANNOTATIONS PSALME CII 5 Thy youth shal be renevved as the Eagles Aristotel and Plinie write that an Eagle decayeth not nor euer dieth by old age but the vpper part of her beake st l growing at last h●ndereth her from eating and so she dieth of fam●ne Saadias and other Hebrew Rabbins reporte that an Eagle euerie tenne yeares washeth herselfe ●n the sea as in a ba●h then flying very hiegh burneth her fethers in the elemental fire new fethers growing she becometh fresh as in her first youth t●l at last about an huadred yeares old she is not able to rise from the water and so is drowned S. Augustin more probably affirmeth that in long time her ●e●ke growing long and stopping her mouth that she can not eate she breaketh the vpper hooked part therof against a stone and so receiueth meate and recouereth strength as in her youth But whatsoeuer is the natural propert e of this kinglie birde the Royal Prophet here instructeth vs by the s●nilitude of her long life or by the renouation of her streingth that iust men Gods seruantes are spiritually renouated in Christ the principal rocke on who● the Church al the faithful are built either by receiuing new streingth by his grace in their soules after they are weakened by sinne as S. Ierom and Eu hymius expound this place or by restauration of their bodies glorified in the resurrection as S. Augustin teacheth or by both as most Catholique Doctors vnderstand it For one sense of holie Scripture excludeth not an other Especially when one is subordinate to the other As here these two senses do very wel concurre seing the state of the bodie after the resurrection dependeth vpon the state of the soule at
loosed him the prince of the people and released him † He appointed him lord of his house and prince of al his possession † That he might instruct his princes as himselfe and might teach his ancientes wisedom † And Israel entered into Aegypt and Iacob was a seiourner in the land of Cham. † And he increased his people excedingly and strengthned them ouer their enemies † He turned their hart that they hated his people and to worke guile toward his seruantes † He sent Moyses his seruant Aaron him selfe whom he chose † He did put in them the wordes of his signes and of his wonders in the Land of Cham. † He sent darkenes and obscured and did not exasperate his wordes † He turned their waters into bloud and killed their fishes † Their land broughtforth frogges in the inner chambers of their kinges † He sayd and the caenomyia came and the cinifes in al their coastes † He made theyr raynes haile fire burning in their land † And he stroke their vines and their figtrees and he destroyed the wood of their coastes † He said the locust came and the bruchus wherof there was no number † And it did eate al the grasse in their land and it did eate al the fruicte of their land † And he stroke euerie first begotten in their land the first fruictes of al their labour † And he brought themforth with gold and siluer and there was not in their tribes a feeble person † Aegypt was glad at their departure because the feare of them lay vpon them † He spred a cloude for their protection and fire to shine vnto them by night † They made petition and the quaile came and he filled them with the bread of heauen † He diuided the rocke and waters flowed riuers ranne in the drie ground † Because he was mindful of his holie word which he had vttered to Abraham his seruant † And he broughtforth his people in exultation and his elect in ioy † And he gaue them the countries of the Nations and they possessed the labours of peoples † That they might keepe his iustifications and seeke after his lawe PSALME CV The prophet exhorteth the people to render thankes and praises to God 6. for remitting their manifold sinnes in the desert 34. and in the conquered land 38. foreshewing like sinnes to come Gods wrath and punishment for the same 44. and that he wil geue grace of repentance to some 47. for which he prayeth and praiseth God Allelu ia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer † Who shal speake the powers of our Lord shal make al his prayses to be heard † Blessed are they that keepe iudgement and doe iustice at al time † Remember vs ô Lord in the good pleasure of thy people visite vs in thy saluation † To see in the goodnes of thyne elect to reioyce in the ioy of thy nation that thou maist be praysed with thine inheritance † We haue sinned with our fathers we haue dealt vniustly we haue done iniquitie † Our father 's in Aegypt did not vnderstand thy meruelous workes they were not mindeful of the multitude of thy mercie And they prouoked thee to wrath going vp vnto the sea the Read sea † And he saued them for his name sake that he might make his power knowen † And he rebuked the Read sea and it was made drie and he led them in the depths as in a desert † And he saued them from the hand of them that hated them and “ he redemed them out of the hand of the enemie † And water ouerwhelmed those that afflicted them there did not one of them remaine † And they beleued his wordes and they sang his praise † They had quickly donne they forgot his workes and they expected not his counsel † And they coueted concupiscence in the desert and tempted God in the place without water † He gaue them their petition and sent saturitie into their soules † And they prouoked Moyses in the campe Aaron the holie of our Lord. † The earth was opened and swalowed Dathan and ouerwhelmed the congregation of Abiron † And a fire flamed vp in their sinagogue the flame burnt the sinners † And they made a calfe in Horeb and they adored the sculptil † And they changed their glorie into the similitude of a calfe that eateth grasse † They forgat God which saued them which did great thinges in Aegypt † meruelous thinges in the land of Cham terrible thinges in the Read sea † And he sayd to destroy them if Moyses his elect had not stood in the way before him To turne away his wrath that he should not destroy them † and they estemed for naught the land that was to be desired They did not beleue his word † and they murmured in their tabernacles they heard not the voice of our Lord. † And he lifted vp his hand ouer them to ouerthrowe them in the desert † And to cast doune their seede among the Nations and to disperse them in the countries † And they were professed to Beelphegor and they did eate the sacrifices of the dead † And they prouoked him in their inuentions and ruine was multiplied on them † And Phinees stood and pacified and the slaughter ceased † And it was reputed to him vnto iustice in generation and generation euen for euer † And they prouoked him at the waters of contradiction and Moyses was vexed for them † because they exasperated his spirit And he playnely affirmed in his lippes † they destroyed not the nations of which our Lord spake to them † And they were mingled among the nations and learned their workes † and they serued their sculptils and it became a scandal to them † And they immolated their sonnes and their daugheters to diuels † And they shed innocent bloud the bloud of their sonnes and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the sculptils of Chanaan And the land was infected with bloud † and was contaminated in their workes and they did fornicat in their inuentions † And our Lord was wrath with ●urie vpon his people and he abhorred his inheritance † And he deliuered them into the handes of the nations and they that hated them had the dominion of them † And their enimies afflicted them and they were humbled vnder their handes † he did often deliuer them But they exasperated him in their counsel and they were humbled in their iniquities † And he saw when they were afflicted and he heard their prayer † And he was mindeful of his testament and it repented him according to the multitude of his mercie
Idumea † Wil t not thou ô God which hast repelled vs and wilt not thou goeforth ô God in our hoastes † Geue vs helpe out of tribulation because mans saluation is vayne † In God we shal doe strength and he wil bring our enemies to nothing PSALME CVIII Christ by the mouth of Dauid requesteth of God to be iustly declared innocent and his enimies punished 6. particularly describing Iudas the traitors malice 21. and his owne temporal afflictions 26. prayeth 30. and praiseth God for his deliuerie † Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid O God conceale not my prayse because the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful man is open vpon me † They haue spoken against me with deceitful tongue and with wordes of hatred they haue compassed me and they haue impugned me without cause † For that they should loue me they backbited me but I prayed † And they set against me euil thinges for good and hatred for my loue Appoint a sinner ouer him and let the diuel stand on his righthand † When he is iudged let him comeforth condemned and let his prayer be turned into sinne † Let his dayes be made fewe and let an other take his bishopricke † Let his children be made orphans and his wife a widow † Let his children be transported wandering and let them begge and let them be cast out of their habitations † Let the vsurer search al his substance and let strangers spoile his labours † Let there be none to helpe him neither let there be anie to haue pittie on his pupilles † Let his children come to destruction in one generation let his name be cleane put out † Let the iniquitie of his fathers returne to memorie in the sight of our Lord and let not the sinne of his mother be blotted out † Let them be before our Lord alwayes and let the memorie of them perish out of the earth † For that he remembred not to doe mercie † And he persecuted the poore and needie man and the compunct in hart to kil him † And he loued cursing and it shal come to him and he would not blessing and it shal be far from him And he put on cursing as a garment and it entred as water into his inner partes and as oile in his bones † Be it to him as a garment wherwith he is couered and as a girdle wherwith he is alwayes girded † This is the worke of them that detract from me before our Lord and that speake euils against my soule † And thou Lord Lord doe with me for thy names sake because thy mercie is swete Deliuer me † because I am needie and poore and my hart is trubled within me † As a shadow when it declineth am I taken away and I am shaken as locustes † My knees are weakened with fasting and my flesh is changed by reason of oile † And I am made a reproch to them they saw me and wagged their heades † Helpe me ô Lord my God saue me according to thy mercie † And let them know that this is thy hand and thou ô Lord hast done it † They wil curse and thou shalt blesse let them that rise vp against me be confounded but thy seruant shal reioyce † Let them that detract from me be clothed with shame and let them be couered with their confusion as with a duble patched cloke † I wil confesse to our Lord excedingly with my mouth and in the middes of manie I wil prayse him † Because he hath stood on the righthand of the poore that he might saue my soule from the persecutors PSALME CIX Christ rising and ascending into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God 2. beginning in Ierusalem reigneth in the Church of the whole earth 4. vseth the Priesthood of Melchisedechs order to the end of the world 6. and shal iudge the world † A psalme of Dauid OVR Lord sayd to my Lord Sitte on my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole of thy feete † Our Lord wil sendforth the rod of thy strength from Sion rule thou in the middes of thine enemies † With thee the beginning in the day of thy strength in the brightnes of holie thinges from the wombe before the day starre I begat thee † Our Lord sware and it shal not repent him Thou art “ a Priest for euer “ according to the order of Melchisedech † Our Lord on thy righthand hath broken kinges in the day of his wrath † He shal iudge in nations he shal fil ruines he shal crush the heads in the land of manie † Of the torrent in the way he shal drinke therfore shal he exalt the head ANNOTATIONS CIX 4. A Priest for euer In two respectes Christ is a Priest for euer in that from the first instant of his incarnation he was and remaneth a Priest now also in heauen and al other Priestes are his ministerial vicares not successors So that al priestlie functions which they doe he by them doth the same as the principal Priest VVherupon saith S. Paul 1. Cor 4. So let a man thincke of vs as of the ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God Secondly Christ dayly offering Sacrifice by the handes of his Priestes doth continually pacifie Gods wrath in behalf of those sinners for whom it is duly applied euen to the end of the world VVheras the Priesthood of Aaron and of al others in the old Testament ceassed by their deathes both in the office and in the effect 4 According to the order of Melchisedech As Melchisedech king of peace and iustice without father mother or genealogie expressed in holie Scriptures or otherwise knowen to the world was Priest or the Hieghest offered bread and wine an vnbloudie sacrifice communicating with both Chananeites and Hebrewes blessed Abraham and tooke tithes of him and his subiectes so Christ the true King of peace iustice without father of his humanity without mother of his Diuinitie the Sonne of God of ineffable genealogie borne of a virgin in his humanitie the Priest of God offereth Sacrifice not only bloudie on the Crosse but also vnbloudie in the formes of bread and wine continueth the same by the ministerie of other Priestes maketh al nations partakers therof blesseth them and receiueth of them al dutiful and rellgious seruice as of his subiectes PSALME CX Praise of God for benefites 4. especially for the B. Sacrament of the Eucharist 6 with other graces imperted to the Catholique Church Alleluia I Wil confesse to thee ô Lord with al my hart in the counsel of the iust and b the congregation † The workes of our Lord are great exquisite according to al his willes † Confession and magnificence his worke
sorte of al is the Idolatrie vvhich the P●almist here describeth vvhen Imagees made by mens handes are immediatly honored as goddes in themselues For such goddes the Gentiles had and of them the Prophet here speaketh Compa●ing these visible sensles imagined goddes vvith the one eternal inuisible God vvho is made notorious by his diuine conspicuous vvorkes vvheras these idols by hovv much they are more visible so much more they are contemptible because being fashioned vvith mouth eyes eares nose handes feete throte and other members they are altogether sensles not able to speake vvith their mouth and therin more base in nature then the men that made them nor able to see heare smel taist feele to vvalke to moue nor to crie al vvhich beastes can doe And therfore these that make them or haue confidence in them as the Prophet here signifieth that some haue v. 16. are most absurde becoming like to the same idols in their vnderstanding and internal cogitations as these idols are voide of external sense And al Idolaters are most vvicked geuing diuine honour to anie creature are therin seruantes of diuels VVhether they immediatly honour diuels as vvhen sorcerers and vvitches making pact vvith the diuel adore him and he for the same doth some thing vvhich they demand or that they honour some other creature vvherin by the diuels false persvvasion they thincke there is diuine poore Both vvhich vvares diuels vsurpe Gods honour and therfore the same Prophet saide in an other Psalme Al the goddes of Gentiles are diuels PSALME CXIIII The prayer of a iust man in tribulation with confidence and gratitude towards God Allelu ia I haue loued because our Lord wil heare the voice of my prayer † Because he hath inclined his eare to me and in my daies I wil inuocate † The sorowes of death haue compassed me and the perils of hel haue found me I haue found tribulation and sorow † and I inuocated the name of our Lord. O Lord deliuer my soule † our Lord is merciful and iust and our God doth mercie † Our Lord kepeth litle ones I was humbled and he hath deliuered me † Turne ô my soule into thy rest because our Lord hath done good to thee † Because he hath deliuered my soule from death mine eies from teares my feete from sliding † I wil please our Lord in the countrie of the liuing PSALME CXV A iust man acknowledging that spiritual life beginneth by faith and by publique profession therof 4. gratfully accepteth of Christs Redemption 5. dedicateth his life and al he hath to Gods seruice Allelu ia I beleued for which cause I spake but I was humbled excedingly † I said in mine excesse Euerie man is a lyer † What shal I render to our Lord for al thinges that he hath rendred to me † I wil take the chalice of saluation and I wil inuocat the name of our Lord. † I wil render my vowes to our Lord before al his people † precious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Sainctes † O Lord because I am thy seruant I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand maide Thou hast broken my bondes † I wil sacrifice to thee the hoast of praise and I wil inuocate the name of our Lord. † I wil render my vowes to our Lord in the sight of al his people † in the courtes of the house of our Lord in the middes of thee ô Ierusalem PSALME CXVI Gods mercie is largely extended to al Gentiles by Christ and his promise withal is performed to the Iewes Allelu ia PRAYSE our Lord al ye Gentiles prayse him al ye peoples † Because his mercie is confirmed vpon vs and his truth remaineth for euer PSALME CXVII Faithful people collected in the Church of Christ exhorte each other to render thankes to God for their deliuerie from spiritual and temporal tribulations 16. The Laitie demand participation of Christs Mysteries promising to serue him duly 25. Which the Pastors freely impert and together with the people solemnely celebrate Gods praise Allelu ia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer † Let Israel now say that he is good that his mercie is for euer † Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercie is for euer † Let them now say which feare our Lord that his mercie is for euer † From tribulation I inuocated our Lord and our Lord heard me in largenes † Our Lord is my helper I wil not feare what man can doe to me † Our Lord is my helper and I wil looke ouer mine enemies † It is good to hope in our Lord rather then to hope in man † It is good to hope in our Lord rather then to hope in princes † Al nations haue compassed me and in the name of our Lord am I reuenged on them † Compassing they haue compassed me and in the name of our Lord I was reuenged on them † They compassed me as bees and were inflamed as fyre in thornes and in the name of our Lord I was reuenged on them † Being thrust I was ouerturned to fal and our Lord receiued me † Our Lord is my strength and my prayse and he is made my saluation The voice of exultation and of saluation in the tabernacles of the iust † The right hand of our Lord hath wrought strength the right hand of our Lord hath exalted me the right hand of our Lord hath wrought strength † I shal not die but shal liue and I wil tel the workes of our Lord. † Our Lord chastising hath chastised me and to death he hath not deliuered me † Open ye the gates of iustice to me being entred into them I wil confesse to our Lord † this is the gate of our Lord the iust shal enter into it † I wil confesse to thee because thou hast heard me and art become my saluation † The stone which the builders reiected the same is made into the head of the corner † This was done by our Lord and it is meruelous id our eies † This is the day which our Lord made let vs reioice and be glad therein † O Lord saue me ô Lord geue good successe Blessed be he that cometh in the name of our Lord. † We haue blessed you of the house of our Lord † our Lord is God and he hath geuen light to vs. Appoint a solemne day with thicke bowes euen to the horne of the altar † Thou art my God and I wil confesse to thee thou art my God and I wil exalt thee I wil confesse to thee because thou hast heard me and art become my saluation
backe they haue prolonged their iniquitie † Our iust Lord wil cut the neckes of sinners † let them al be confounded and turned backward that hate Sion † Let them be made as grasse in the toppes of houses which is withered before it be plucked vp † Wherof the reaper hath not filled his hand and he that gathereth the sheaues his bosome † And they sayd not that passed by The blessing of our Lord be vpon you we haue blessed you in the name of our Lord. PSALME CXXIX The Iewes or other people in tribulation for sinne or temporal captiuitie crie to God to be deliuered 4. trusting and encoreging ech other in Gods accustomed mercie assuredly hoping that he wil redeme deliuer them A gradual Canticle FROM the depthes I haue cried to thee ô Lord † Lord heare my voice Let thine eares be intent to the voice of my petition † If thou shalt obserue iniquities ô Lord Lord who shal susteyne it † Because with thee there is propiciation and for thy law I haue expected thee ô Lord. My soule hath expected in his word † my soule hath hoped in our Lord. † From the morning watch euen vntil night let Israel hope in our Lord. † Because with our Lord there is mercie and with him plenteous redemption † And he shal redeme Israel from al his iniquities PSALME CXXX Anie iust soule in humble confidence offereth his innocencie as a spiritual and gratful sacrifice to God 3. exhorting al Gods seruants euer to hope in him A gradual Canticle of Dauid LORD my hart is not exalted neither are mine eies loftie Neither haue I walked in great matters nor in meruelous thinges aboue me † If I was not humbly mynded but exalted my soule As the weaned childe is toward his mother so retribution in my soule † Let Israel hope in our Lord from henceforth now and for euer PSALME CXXXI The Psalmist earnestly prayeth God to geue him leaue to shew him where to build a Temple But more especially prayeth for and prophecieth the coming of Christ the promised Sonne of Dauid 14. signifying Gods promise therof and of establishing his Church A gradual Canticle REMEMBER Dauid ô Lord and al his meekenes † As he sware to our Lord vowed a vowe to the God of Iacob † If I shal enter into the tabernacle of my house if I shal ascend into the bed of my couch † If I shal geue sleepe to mine eies and slumbering to mine eie liddes † And rest to my temples vntil I finde a place for our Lord a tabernacle for the God of Iacob † Behold we haue heard of it in Ephrata we haue found it in the fildes of the wood † We wil enter into his tabernacle we wil adore in the place where his feete stood † Arise Lord into thy rest thou and the arke of thy sanctification † Let thy Priestes be clothed with iustice let thy sainctes reioyce † For Dauid thy seruants sake turne not away the face of thy Christ † Our Lord hath sworne truth to Dauid and he wil not disapoint it Of the fruite of thy wombe I wil set vpon thy seate † If thy children shal keepe my testament and these my testimonies which I wil teach them Their children also euen for euer shal sit vpon thy seate † Because our Lord hath chosen Sion he hath chosen it for an habitation to himself † This is my rest for euer and euer here wil I dwel because I haue chosen it † Blessing I wil blesse her widow her poore I wil fil with breades † Her Priestes I wil clothe with saluation and her sainctes shal reioyce with ioyfulnes † Thither wil I bring forth a horne to Dauid I haue prepared a lampe to my Christ † His enemies I wil clothe with confusion but vpon him shal my sanctification florish PSALME CXXXII Fraternal concord is commended to al in the Church as necessarie and delectable in it self and blessed of God A gradual Canticle of Dauid BEHOLD how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwel in one † As oyntement on the head which ranne downe vpon the beard the beard of Aaron which ranne downe vnto the hemme of his garment † As the dew of Hermon which runneth downe vpon mount Sion Because there hath our Lord commanded blessing and life euen for euer PSALME CXXXIII Al and especially clergie men that serue the Church are inuited to prayse God by day and by night so shal they be blessed of God A gradual Canticle LOE now blesse our Lord al ye the seruantes of our Lord Which stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God † In the nightes lift vp your handes vnto the holie places and blesse ye our Lord. Our Lord out of Sion blesse thee who made heauen and earth PSALME CXXXIIII God who only is omnipotent and fountaine of algoodnes is of al to be praised 8. He is the special protector of his elected people 15. Contrariwise false goddes are impotent vaine and can not helpe those that serue them 19. Only the Church doth rightly praise him Alleluia PRAYSE ye the name of our Lord ye seruantes prayse our Lord. † Ye that stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God † Prayse ye our Lord because our Lord is good sing ye to his name because it is sweete † Because our Lord hath chosen Iacob to himself Israel for his owne possession † Because I haue knowne that our Lord is great and our God aboue al goddes † Al thinges whatsoeuer our Lord would he hath done in heauen in earth in the sea and in al the depthes † Bringing forth clowdes from the vttermost of the earth lightenings he hath turned into rayne Who bringeth forth the windes out of his treasures † who stroke the first begotten of Aegypt from man euen to beast † He sent ●orth signes and wonders in the middes of thee ô Aegypt vpon Pharao and vpon al his seruantes † Who stroke manie nations and slew strong kinges † Sehon the king of the Amorrheites Og the king of Basan and al the kingdomes of Chanaan † And he gaue their land for inheritance for an inheritance to Israel his people † Lord thy name is for euer Lord thy memorial is vnto generation and generation † Because our Lord shal iudge his people and wil be intreated toward his seruantes † The idoles of the Gentiles are siluer and gold the workes of mens handes † They haue mouth and shal not speake they haue eies and shal not see † They haue eares and shal
not heare for neither is there breath in their mouth † Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them † Ye house of Israel blesse our Lord ye house of Aaron blesse our Lord. † Ye house of Leui blesse our Lord you that feare our Lord blesse ve our Lord. † Blessed be our Lord out of Sion who dwelleth in Ierusalem PSALME CXXXV God being meruelous in himself 4. hath shewed his powre and goodnes in his workes as wel in general to al the world 10. as in particular towards his elected people Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the God of goddes because his mercie is for euer † Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer † Who onlie doth great meruels because his mercie is for euer † Who made the heauen in vnderstanding because his mercie is for euer † Who established the earth ouer the waters because his mercie is for euer † Who made the great lightes because his mercie is sor euer † The sunne to rule the day because his mercie is for euer † The moone and starres to rule the night because his mercie is for euer † Who stroke Aegypt with their firstbegotten because his mercie is for euer † Who brought forth Israel out of the middes of them because his mercie is for euer † In a mightie hand and loftie arme because his mercie is for euer † Who diuided the Read sea into diuisions because his mercie is for euer † And brought forth Israel through the middes therof because his mercie is for euer † And he ouerthrew Pharao and his host in the Readsea because his mercie is for euer † Who led his people through the desert because his mercie is for euer † Who stroke great kinges because his mercie is for euer † And slewe strong kinges because his mercie is for euer † Sehon the king of the Amorrheites because his mercie is for euer † And Og the king of Basan because his mercie is for euer † And he gaue their land for an inheritance because his mercie is for euer † For an inheritance to Israel his seruant because his mercie is for euer † For in our humiliation he was mindful of vs because his mercie is for euer † And he redemed vs from our enemies because his mercie is for euer † Who geueth foode to al fleshe because his mercie is for euer † Confesse ye to the God of heauen because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer PSALME CXXXVI The Prophet describeth how lamentably the people in captiuitie of Babylon wil bewaile the want of meanes to serue God and of their natiue soyle 7. with iust desire of their enimies punishment A Psalme of Dauid for Ieremie VPON the riuers of Babylon there we sate and wept whiles we remembred Sion † On the willowes in the middes therof we hanged vp our instrumentes † Because there they that led vs captiue demanded of vs wordes of songes And they that led vs away Sing ye an hymne to vs of the songes of Sion † How shal we sing the song of our Lord in a strange land † If I shal forget thee ô Ierusalem let my right hand be forgotten † Let my tongue cleaue to my iawes if I doe not remember thee If I shal not set Ierusalem in the beginning of my ioy † Be mindful ô Lord of the childrem of Edom in l the day of Ierusalem That say Rase it rase it euen vnto the foundation therof † Daugther of Babylon miserable blessed is he that shal repay thee thy payment which thou hast payed vs. † Blessed is he that shal hold and shal dash thy litle ones against the rocke PSALME CXXXVII The whole Church or anie iust person rendreth thankes to God for his benefites 4. praying that al kinges and kingdomes may do the same 4. because God being high respecteth and aduanceth the humble To Dauid him self I wil confesse to thee ô Lord in my whole hart because thou hast heard the wordes of my mouth In the sight of Angels I wil sing to thee † I wil adore toward thy holie temple and wil confesse to thy name For thy mercie and thy truth because thou hast magnified aboue euerie thing thy holie name † In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me thou wilt multiplie strength in my soule † Let al the kinges of the earth ô Lord confesse to thee because they haue heard al the wordes of thy mouth † And let them sing in the wayes of our Lord because great is the glorie of our Lord. † Because our Lord is high and he beholdeth low thinges and high thinges he knoweth far of † If I shal walke in the middes of tribulation thou wilt quicken me and vpon the wrath of mine enimies thou hast extended thy hand and thy right hand hath saued me † Our Lord wil repay for me ô Lord thy mercie is for euer despise not the workes of thy handes PSALME CXXXVIII Gods knowlege 7. and presence 10. without the helpe or hinderance anie thing extendeth to al thinges times and places 17 he geueth exceding great honour to his sainctes 20 the wicked as enimies to God are iustly hated 23. the iust pray for Gods perpetual direction Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid LORD thou hast proued me and hast knowen me † thou hast knowen my sitting downe and my rising vp † Thou hast vnderstood my cogitations far of my path and my corde thou hast searched out † And thou hast foresene al my wayes because there is not a word in my tongue † Behold ô Lord thou hast knowen al the last thinges them of old thou hast formed me and hast put thy hand vpon me † Thy knowledge is become meruelous of me it is made great and I can not reach to it † Whither shal I goe from thy spirit and whither shal I flee from thy face † If I shal ascend into heauen thou art there ●f I descend into hel thou art present † If I shal take my winges early and dwel in the extreme partes of the sea † Certes thither also shal thy hand conduct me and thy right hand shal hold me † And I sayd Perhaps darknes shal treade ouer me and the night is mine illumination in my delightes † For darkenes shal not be darkened from thee and the night shal be lightened as the day as the darkenes therof so also the light therof † Because thou hast possessed my reynes thou hast receiued me from my mothers wombe † I wil confesse to
rather by them that may be supplied vvhich the Hebrevv vvanteth PSALME CXLV The Psalmist exciteth himself and al others to praise God for his singular regard and prouidence of al that trust in him 3. shewing that neither princes nor other men are able to helpe 5. but God can and doth continually releue al sortes of necessities Alleluia of Aggaeus and Zacharie MY soule prayse thou our Lord I wil praise our Lord in my ●te I wil sing to my God as long as I shal be Put not confidence in princes † in the sonnes of men in whom there is no saluation † His spirit shal goeforth and he shal returne into his earth in that day al their cogitations shal perish † Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Iacob his hope in our Lord his God † who made heauen and earth the sea and al thinges that are in them † Which keepeth truth for euer doth iudgement for them that suffer wrong geueth foode to the hungrie Our Lord looseth the fettered † our Lord illuminateth the blind Our Lord lifteth vp the bruised our Lord loueth the iust † Our Lord keepeth strangers the pupil and widow he wil receiue and the wayes of sinners he wil destroy † Our Lord wil reigne for euer thy God ô Sion in generation and generation PSALME CXLVI God is also to be praised by his peculiar people for particular benefites 4. for his omnipotent powre wisdom goodnes in creating and gouerning this whole world 11. and most special benignitie towards those that trust in him Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord because Psalme is good to our God let there be pleasant and comelie praise † Our Lord building vp Ierusalem wil gather together the dispersions of Israel † Who healeth the contrite of hart and bindeth vp their sores † Who numbereth the multitude of starres and geueth names to them al. † Great is our Lord and great is his strength and of his wisdom there is no number † Our Lord receiuing the meeke humbling sinners euen to the ground † Sing ye to our Lord in confession sing ye to our God on harpe † Who couereth the heauen with cloudes and prepareth rayne for the earth Who bringeth forth grasse in the mountaines and herbe for the seruice of men † Who geueth to beastes their foode and to the young rauens that cal vpon him † He shal not haue pleasure in the strength of an horse nor in the legges of a man shal he be wel pleased † Our Lord is wel pleased toward them that feare him and in them that hope vpon his mercie PSALME CXLVII Againe God is to be praised for his goodnes towards his peculiar people 4. yea towards al the world 7. but most abundantly towards his Church Alleluia O Ierusalem praise our Lord praise thy God ô Sion † Because he hath strengthened the lockes of thy gates he hath blessed thy children in thee † Who hath set thy borders peace and filleth thee with the fatte of corne † Who sendeth forth his speach to the earth his word runneth swiftly † Who geueth snow as wool scatereth mist as ashes † He casteth his crystal as morseles before the face of his cold l who shal endure † He shal sendforth his word and shal melt them his spirit shal blowe and waters shal flowe † Who declareth his word to Iacob his iustices and iudgements to Israel † He hath not done in like maner to anie nation and his iudgements he hath not made manifest to them Allelu-ia PSALME CXLVIIII Al creatures spiritual and corporal are inuited to praise God their Creator and Conseruer 13. as incomparably excellent Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord from the heauens praise ye him in the high places † Prayse ye him al his Angels prayse ye him al his hostes † Prayse ye him sunne and moone prayse him al ye starres and light † Prayse him ye heauens of heauens and the waters that are aboue the heauens † let them praise the name of our Lord. Because he sayd and they were made he commanded and they were created † He established them for euer and for euer and euer he put a precept and it shal not passe † Prayse our Lord from the earth ye dragons and al depthes † Fyre haile snow yse spirit of stormes which doe his worde † Mountaines and al litle hilles trees that beare fruite and al ceders † Beastes and al cattel serpentes and fethered fowles † Kinges of the earth and al peoples princes and al iudges of the earth † Yongmen and virgins old with yong let them prayse the name of our Lord † because the name of him alone is exalted † The confession of him aboue heauen and earth and he hath exalted the horne of his people An hymne to al his sainctes to the children of Israel a people approching vnto him Alleluia PSALME CXLIX The Church is most singularly bond to praise God 4. for the grace sanctitie victorie glorie 7. and iudicial powre which he geueth to his Sainctes Alleluia SING ye to our Lord a new song let his prayse be in the Church of sainctes † Let Israel be ioyful in him that made him and let the children of Sion reioyce in their king † Let them praise his name in quite on tymbrel and psalter let them sing to him † Because our Lord is wel pleased in his people and he wil exalt the meeke vnto saluation † The sainctes shal reioyce in glorie they shal be ioyful in their beddes † The exaltations of God in their throte and two edged swordes in their handes † To doe reuenge in the nations chastisements among the peoples † To binde their kinges in fetters and their nobles in yron manicles † That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written this glorie is to al his sainctes Alleluia PSALME CL. God absolutly most excellent is to be praised 3. with al sortes of instruments and by al other meanes Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord in his holies prayse ye him in the firmament of his strength † Prayse ye him in his powers prayse ye him according to the multitude of his greatnes † Prayse ye him in the sound of trumpet prayse ye him on psalter and harpe † Prayse ye him on timbrel and quire prayse ye him on stringes and organ † Prayse ye him on wel sounding cymbals prayse ye him on cymbales of iubilation † let euerie spirit prayse our Lord. Alleluia ANNOTATIONS PSALME CL. S. Augustin in the conclusion of his Enarrations or Sermons vpon the Psalmes explicateth a mysterie in the number of an hundred and fieftie signifying the concord of the two Testaments For in the old testament they kept
vpon hote coales that his soales be not burnt † so he that goeth in vnto his neighbours wife shal not be cleane when he shal touche her † It is no greate fault when a man shal haue stollen for he stealeth to fil his hungrie soule † also being taken he shal restore seuenfold and shal geue vp al the substance of his house † But he that is an aduouterer for penurie of harr shal destroy his owne soule † shame and ignominie he gethereth to himsefe his reproch shal not be blotted out † Because the zele and furie of the husband wil not spare in the day of reuenge † neither wil he yeld to any mans prayers neither wil he take for redemption verie many giftes CHAP. VII He further exhorteth youngmen to seke wisdom 5. especially to flee from the intisements of harlots largely describing the same 22. and the ruine of them that are so deluded MY sonne keepe my wordes and my preceptes hide with thee Sonne † keepe my commandmentes and thou shalt liue and my law as the apple of thine eie † binde it on thy fingers write it in the tables of thy hart † Say to wisdom thou art my sister cal prudence thy freind † that she may keepe thee from the strange woman and from the forenrer which maketh her wordes sweete † For out of the window of my house I looked out through the lattise † and I see litle ones I behold a foolish youngman † which passeth through the streates by the corner and goeth nigh the way of her house † in the darke the day being toward euening in the darkenes of the night and dimnes † And behold the woman meeteth him in harlotes atyre prepared to deceiue soules babling and wandering † impatient of rest nor able to consist in the house on her feete † now abrode now in the streates now lying in wayte neere the corners † And taking the youngman she kisseth him and with malepert countenance speaketh fayre saying † I vowed victimes for welfare this day I haue payed my vowes † Therfore I am come forth to meete thee desirous to see thee and I haue found thee † I haue wouen my bed with cordes I haue adorned it with tapestrie pictured out of Aegypt † I haue sprinkled my bed with myr●he aloes and cinamome † Come let vs be inebriated with brestes and let vs enioy desired embracings til the day appeare † For my husband is not at home he is gone a very long iourney † he caried with him a bagge of money in the day of the ful moone he wil returne to his house † She intangled him with many wordes and with flatterie of lippes drewe him † Immediatly he foloweth her as an oxe led to be a victime as a lambe playing the wanton and not knowing that he is drawen as a foole to bondes † til the arow pearse his liuer as if a birde should make haste to the snare and knoweth not that his life is in danger † Now therfore my sonne heare me and attend to the wordes of my mouth † Let not thy mind be drawen away in her wayes neither be thou deceiued with her pathes † For she hath cast downe manie wounded and al the most strong are slaine by her † Her house the wayes of hel penetrating to the inner partes of death CHAP. VIII Wisdom is preached in conspicious and most frequented places that none may pretend wante of admonition 7. her doctrin is true godlie profitable necessarie to al sortes of men 12. wisdom increated which is God himselfe is eternal 32. and bringeth eternal happines DOTH not wisdom crie and prudence geue her voice † Standing in the high loftie toppes ouer the way in the middes of the pathes † beside the gates of the citie in the verie doores she speaketh saying † O men to you I crie and my voice is to the children of men † O litle ones vnderstand subtiltie and ye vnwise marke † Heare ye because I wil speake of great thinges and my lippes shal be opened to preach right thinges † My throte shal meditate truth and my lippes shal detest the impious † Al my wordes are iust there is no wicked nor peruerse thing in them † They are right to them that vnderstand and iust to them that finde knowlege † Receiue ye discipline not money choose doctrine rather then gold † For wisdom is better then al most precious riches and whatsoeuer is to be desired can not be compared to it † I wisdome dwel in counsel and am present in lerned cogitations † The feare of our Lord hateth euil arrogancie and pride and wicked way and a duble toungued mouth I doe detest † Myne is counsel equitie prudence is mine strength is mine † By me kinges doe reigne and the makers of law decree iust thinges † By me princes rule and the mightie decree iustice † I loue them that loue me and they that watch toward me shal finde me † With me are riches and glorie glorious riches and iustice † For my fruite is better then gold and precious stone and my blosomes then chosen siluer † I Walke in the wayes of iustice in the middes of the pathes of iudgement † that I may enriche them that loue me and may replenish their treasures † Our Lord possessed me in the beginning of his wayes before he had made any thing from the beginning † From eternitie I was ordayned of old before the earth was made † The depthes were not as yet and I was now conceiued neither had the fountaines of waters as yet gushed forth † the mountaines with heauie hugenesse stoode not as yet before the litle hilles I was brought forth † he had not yet made the earth and the riuers and the poles of the round world † When he prepared the heauens I was present when with a certaine law and circuite he compassed the depthes † When he established the firmament aboue poysed the fountaines of waters † when he compassed the sea with her limites and set a law to the waters that they should not passe their boundes when he hanged the foundations of the earth † I was with him framing al thinges and was delighted euetie day playing before him at al time † playing in the world my delights to be with the children of men † Now therfore children heare me blessed are they that keepe my wayes † Heare ye discipline and be wise and reiect it not † Blessed is the man that heareth me that watcheth at my doores dayly wayteth at the postes of my doore † He that shal finde me shal finde life and shal draw saluation of our Lord † but he that shal sinne against me shal hurt his owne soule Al that hate me loue death CHAP. IX Wisdom hauing built her house with seuen pillers inuiteth al to a prepared banquette 11. promising to multiplie ioyful dayes 13. Folie
that neither running is of the swift nor warre of the strong nor bread of the wise nor riches of the lerned nor grace of the artificers but time and chance in al. † Man knoweth not his owne end but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birdes are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euil time when it shal sudenly come vpon them † This wisdom also I haue sene vnder the sunne and haue proued it to be very great † A litle citie and few men in it there came against it a great king and compassed it and builded fortes round about and the siege was perfired † And there was found in it a man poore and wise and he deliuered the citie by his wisdom and no man afterward remembred that pooreman † And I sayd that wisdom is better then streingth how then was the wisdom of the pooreman contemned his wordes were not heard † The wordes of the wise are heard in silence more then the crie of a prince among fooles † Better is wisdom then weapons of warre and he that shal offend in one point shal lose manie good thinges CHAP. X. Considering the great difference betwen wisdom and follie 4. it behoueth to resist vehement tentations diligently 5. As when euil ignorant men haue auctoritie ouer the wise 8. The wicked often fal into their owne snares 10. are hard yet not vnpossible to be corrected 11. Detracters are like serpents 12. wise graue princes are profitable childish are hurtful to the commonwealth 18. which by their negligence tendeth to ruine 20. yet subiectes ought not to iudge euil of them FLIES dying marre the sweetnes of ointment Wisdom and glorie is more precious then a litle and temporal follie † The hart of a wiseman is in his righthand and the hart of a foole is in his lefthand † Yea and the foole walking in the way wheras himself is vnwise estemeth al men fooles † If the spirite of him that hath powre ascend vpon thee leaue not thy place because carefulnes wil make the greatest sinnes to cease † There is an euil that I haue sene vnder the sunne as it were by errour proceding from the face of the prince † a foole set in high dignitie and the rich to sitte beneth † I haue sene seruants vpon horses and princes walking on the ground as seruants † He that diggeth a pitte shal fal into it and he that breaketh the hedge a serpent shal bite him † He that remoueth stones shal be afflicted in them and he that cutteth trees shal be wounded of them † If the iron shal be blunt and that not as before but shal be made blunt it shal be sharpened by great labour and after industrie shal wisdom solow † If a serpent bite in silence nothing lesse then it hath he that detracteth seo●etly † The wordes of the mouth of a wiseman grace and the lippes of the vnwise shal throw him downe headlong † The beginning of his wordes is follie and the later end of his mouth is most wicked errour † A foole multiplieth wordes A man is ignorant what hath bene before him and what shal be after him who can tel him † The labour of fooles shal afflict them that know not to goe into the cittie † “ Woe to thee ô land whose king is a childe and whose princes eate in the morning † Blessed is the land whose king is noble whose princes eate in their time to refection and not to riotousnes † In slouthfulnes the roofe of the house shal goe to ruine in the infirmitie of the handes the house shal droppe through † They make bread for laughter and wine that liuing they may make merie and to money al thinges obey † In thy cogitation detract not from the king and in the secret of thy chamber curse not the richman because euen the birdes of the ayre wil carie thy voice and he that hath winges wil declare the sentence ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 16 VVoe to thee o land vvhose king is a childe S. Ierom as in most part of his commentaries vpon this booke expoundeth this passage in two senses simply according to the first apparance of the letter and mystically concerning the Church The wiseman semeth in dede sayth he to reproue the principalitie of yongmen and to condemne luxurious iudges for that in the one by want of age is infirme wisdom in the other mature age is weakened by delicacies And contrary wise he approueth a prince of good partes liberal education commendeth those Iudges which do not preferre voluptuousnes before publique affayres but after great labour and administration of the commonwealth are constrained as by necessitie to take meate Yet to me saith this great Doctor something more sacred semeth to lye hidde in the letter that in Scripture they are called yongmen who forsake old auctoritie and contemne ancient precepts of forefathers who neglecting Gods commandment desire to establish traditions of men Touching which points our Lord threatneth Israel by Isaias for that this people hath refused the water of Siloe that runneth with silence and hath turned away the old fishpond choosing the streames of Samaria and gulfes of Damascus I wil geue yongmen to be their princes and deluders shal rule ouer them Read Daniel Thou shalt finde God ancient of dayes Read the Apocalips of S. Iosu Thou shalt finde the head of our Sauiour white as snow and as white wool Ieremie also because he was wise and grauitie was reputed in his wisdom was forbid to cal himself a childe VVoe therfore to the land whose king is the diuel who alwayes couering nouelties rebelled in Absalom against the father VVoe to that land whose Iudges and Princes loue the pleasures of this vvorld VVho vntil the day of death come say Let vs eate and drinke for to morow we shal dye Contrarivvise blessed is the land of the Church vvhose King is Christ the Sonne of the freeborne descending from Abraham Isaac and Iacob the stock of Prophetes and of al Saintes ouer vvhom sinne ruled not and for that cause they vvere truly free of vvhom vvas borne the holie Virgin Marie more free hauing no shrubbe nor branch out of the side but her vvhole fruite sprungforth into a floure saying in the Canticles I am the floure of the filde the lillie of the valles The princes also of this land are the Apostles and al sainctes vvho haue their king the sonne of the freeborne the sonne of the freevvoman not of the bondvvoman Agar but borne of the freedom of Sara Neither do they eate in the morning nor quickly For they seke not pleasure in this present vvorld but shal eate in their due time vvhen the time of revvard shal come and they shal eate in fortitude and not in confusion Al the good of this present vvorld is confusion but of the future vvorld is perpetual fortitude Thus farre
and his hope vaine earth and his life viler then clay † because he was ignorant who made him and who inspired into him the soule which worketh and who breathed into him the vital spirite † Yea and they estemed our life to be a pastime and the conuersation of life made for a gayne that we must get euerie way euen of euil † For he knoweth that he offendeth aboue al men which of the matter of earth fashioneth frayle vessels and sculptils † For al the vnwise and vnhappie aboue measure of the soule proude are the enemies of thy people and rule ouer them † because they haue estemed al the idols of the nations for goddes which neither haue vse of eies to see nor nosthrels to take breath nor eares to heare nor fingers of the hands to handle yea and their feete are slow to walke † For a man made them and he that borowed breath the same fashioned them For no man can make God like to himself † For wheras himself is mortal he maketh a dead thing with his wicked handes For he is better then they whom he worshippeth because he in deede liued though he were mortal but they neuer † But they worship also most miserable beasts for the senslesse thinges compared to these are worse then they † Yea neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts But they haue fled from the prayse of God and from his blessing CHAP. XVI God plaguing the Aegyptians for idolatrie and crueltie deliuered the Israelites 5. Chasticed them also but againe shewed them mercie 20. and fedde them with Manna FOR these thinges and by the like to these they haue worthely suffered torments and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts † For the which torments thou didst wel dispose of thy people to whom thou gauest the desire of their delectation a new taste preparing them the quaile for meate † that they in deede coueting meate because of those thinges which were shewed and sent them might be turned away euen from necessarie concupiscence But they in short time being made needie tasted a new meate † For it behoued that without excuse destruction should come vpon them exercising tyrannie but to these onlie to shew how their enemies were destroyed † For when the cruel wrath of beastes came vpon them they were destroyed with the bytings of peruerse serpents † Howbeit thy wrath endured not for euer but for chastisement they were trubled a short time hauing a signe of saluation for the remembrance of the commandment of thy law † For he that turned to it was not healed by that which he saw but by thee the sauiour of al † and in this thou didst shew to our enemies that thou art he which deliuerest from al euil † For the bitings of locusts and flies killed them and there was found no remedie for their life because they were worthie to be destroyed by such thinges † But neither the teeth of venemous dragons ouercame thy children for thy mercie coming healed them † For in memorie of thy wordes they were examined were quickly saued lest falling into deepe obliuion they might no● vse thy helpe † For neither herbe not pla●ster healed them but thy word ô Lord which healeth al thinges † For i● is thou ô Lord that hast powre of life and death and bringest downe to the gates of death and fetchest agayne † but man certes killeth by malice and when the spirit is gone forth it shal not returne neither shal he cal backe the soule that is receiued † but it is vnpossible to escape thy hand † For the impious denying to knowe thee haue bene scourged by the strength of thine arme suffering persecution by strange waters and haile and rayne and consumed by fyre † For that which was meruelous in water which extinquisheth al thinges fyre more preuayled for the world is reuenger of the iust † For a certayne time the fyre was mitigated that the beasts which were sent to the impious might not be burnt but that they seing might know that by Gods iudgement they suffer punishment † And at a certaine time the fyre aboue his powre burnt in water on euerie side that it might destroy the nation of a wicked land † For the which thinges thou didst nourish thy people with the meate of Angels and bread prepared thou gauest them from heauen without labour hauing in it al delectation and the sweetnes of al taste † For thy substance did shew thy sweetnes which thou hast toward thy children and seruing euerie mans wil it was turned to that that euerie man would † Yea snow and yee susteyned the force of fyre and melted not that they might know that fyre burning in hayle and lightening in rayne destroyed the fruites of the enemies † And this againe that the iust might be nourished it forgat also his owne strength † For the creature seruing thee the Creatour is fierce into torment against the vniust and is made more gentle to doe good for them that trust in thee † For this cause euen then being transformed into al thinges they serued thy grace the nource of al at their wil that desired thee † that thy children might know whom thou louedst ô Lord that not the fruites of natiuitie doe feede men but thy word preserueth them that beleue in thee † For that which could not be destroyed by fyre forthwith being heated with a litle beame of the sunne did melt † that it might be knowen to al men that we ought to preuent the sunne to blesse thee and at the rysing of light to adore thee † For the fayth of the vngratful shal melt as winter yee shal perish as vnprofitable water CHAP. XVII Horrible darkenes falling in Aegypt 19. the rest of the world had ordinarie light FOR thy iudgements ô Lord are great thy wordes inexphcable for this cause the soules lacking discipline haue erred † For whiles the wicked are perswaded that they can rule ouer the holie nation fettered with the bands of darknes and long night shut vp vnder roofes they haue lyen fugitiues from the euerlasting prouidence † And whiles they thincke that they lie hid in obscure sinnes they were dispersed by the darke couert of obliuion being horribly afrayd and disturbed with exceding admiration † For neither did the denne that conteyned them keepe them without feare because the sound coming downe trubled them and sorowful visions appearing to them put them in feare † And no force certes of the fyre could geue them light neither could the clere flames of the starres lighten that horrible night † But there appeared to them soden fyre ful of feare and being stroken with the feare of that face which was not sene they estemed the thinges that were sene to be worse † and there were added derisions of the magical art and contumelious rebuke of the glorie of
the cloudes of glorie and as a flower of roses in the daies of the spring and as the lilies that are in the passage of water and as frankensence smelling in summer daies † As fire glistering and frankensence burning in the fire † As a massie vessel of gold adorned with euerie precious stone † As an oliue tree budding and a cypresse tree aduancing it self on high when he tooke the robe of glorie and was reuested to the consummation of strength † In going vp to the holie altar he made the vesture of holines glorie † And in receiuing the portions out of the hand of the priestes himself also standing by the altar About him was the ring of his bretheren and as the ceder plant in mount Libanus † so stoode they about him as boughes of the palme tree al the children of Aaron in their glorie † And the oblation of our Lord in their handes before al the synagogue of Israel and executing the consummation on the altar to amplifie the oblation of the high king † he stretched forth his hand in oblation of moist sacrifice and offered of the blood of the grape † He powred out on the fundation of the altar a diuine odour to the high prince † Then cried out the children of Aaron they sounded with beaten trumpets and made a great voice to be heard for a remembrance before God † Then al the people together made hast and fel on their face vpon the earth to adore our Lord their God and to make prayers to God omnipotent the Highest † And the singers amplified in their voices and in the great house the sound was encreased ful of sweetenes † And the people in prayer desired our Lord the Highest vntil the honour of our Lord was perfected and they finished their office † Then coming downe he lifted vp his handes ouer al the congregation of the children of Israel to geue glorie to God from his lippes and to glorie in his name † and he repeated his prayer willing to shew the power of God † And now pray ye the God of al who hath done great thinges in al the land who hath encreased our daies from our mothers wombe and hath done with vs according to his mercie † geue he vnto vs ioyfulnes of euerlasting † that Israel may beleue that the mercie of God is with vs to deliuer vs in his dayes † Two nations my soule hateth and the third is no nation which I hate † they that sitte in mount Seit and the Philisthijms and the foolish people that dwel in Sichem † Iesus the sonne of Sirach a man of Ierusalem wrote the doctrine of wisdom and discipline in this booke who renewed wisdom from his hart † Blessed is he that conuerseth in these good thinges and he that layeth them in his hart shal be wise always † For if he doe them he shal be able to doe al thinges because his steppes are in the light of God CHAP. LI. The auctor rendereth praises and thankes to God 18. and inuiteth others to do the same by his owne example 31. and by earnest exhortation THE prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach I wil confesse to thee ô Lord king and wil praise thee God my sauiour † I wil confesse to thy name because thou art become my helper and protectour † and hast deliuered my bodie from perdition from the snare of an vniust tongue and from the lippes of them that worke lying and in the sight of them that stoode vp thou art become my helper † And thou hast deliuered me according to the multitude of the mercie of thy name from them that did roare prepared to deuoure † out of the handes of them that seeke my soule and from the gates of tribulations which haue compassed me † from the oppression of the flame which hath compassed me and in the middes of fire I was not burnt † From the depth of the bellie of hel and from a defiled tongue and from the word of lying from a wicked king and from an vniust tongue † my soule shal praise our Lord euen to death † and my life was approching to hel beneth † They haue compassed me on euerie side there was none that would helpe I looked toward the helpe of men there was none † I remembred thy mercie ô Lord and thy operation which are from the beginning of the world † Because thou deliuerest them that patiently expect thee ô Lord and sauest them out of the handes of the nations † Thou hast exalted my habitation vpon the earth and I haue prayed for death to passe away † I haue inuocated our Lord the father of my Lord that he leaue me not in the day of my tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe † I wil praise thy name continually and wil collaude it in confession and my prayer was heard † And thou hast deliuered me from perdition and hast rescued me from the wicked time † Therfore wil I confesse say praise to thee and blesse the name of our Lord. † When I was yet young before I erred I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer † Before the temple I prayed for it and vnto the later end I wil se●ke after it and it shal flourish as the grape timely ripe † my hart hath reioyced in it my foote hath walked the right way from my youth I searched after it † I bowed mine eare a litle and receiued it † I found much wisdom in myself I haue much profited therein † To him that geueth me wisdom wil I geue glorie † For I haue consulted to doe it I haue had a zele to good and shal not be confounded † My soule hath wrestled in it and in doing it I was confirmed † I stretched forth my handes on high I lamented foolishnes † I directed my soule to wisdom and in knowlege I found it † I possessed with it an hart from the beginning for this cause I shal not be forsaken † My bellie was trubled in seeking it therefore shal I possesse a good possession † Our Lord hath geuen me a tongue for my reward and with the same I wil praise him † Approch vnto me ye vnlerned and gather yourselues together into the house of discipline † Why slacke ye yet and what say you herein your soules are exceeding thirstie † I haue opened my mouth and haue spoken Bye it for you without siluer † and submit your necke to the yoke and let your soule receiue discipline for it is very neere to finde it † See with your eyes that I haue laboured a litle and haue found much rest to myself † Take ye discipline in a great summe of siluer and possesse abundance of gold in it † Let your soule reioyce in his mercie and you shal not be confounded in praise † Worke your worke before the time and he wil geue you your reward in
of the earth † But if you wil not and wil prouoke me to wrath the sword shal deuoure you because the mouth of our Lord hath spoken † How is the faythful citie ful of iudgement become an harlot iustice hath dwelled in it but now mankillers † Thy siluer is turned into drosse thy wine is mingled with water † Thy princes are vnfaithful companions of theues al loue giftes folow rewardes They iudge not for the pupil and the widowes cause goeth not in to them † For this cause sayth our Lord the God of hostes the mightie one of Israel Alas I wil comfort myselfe vpon mine aduersaries and wil be reuenged of mine enemies † And I wil turne mine hand to thee and I wil boyle out thy drosse til it be pure wil take away al thy tinne † And I wil restore thy iudges as they haue beene before and thy counselers as of old After these thinges thou shalt be called the iust a faithful citie † Sion shal be redemed in iudgement and they shal bring her backe in iustice † And he shal destroy the wicked and the sinners together and they that haue forsaken our Lord shal be consumed † For they shal be confounded for the idols to which they haue sacrificed and you shal be ashamed of the gardens which you chose † When you shal be as an oke the leaues falling of and as a garden without water † And your strength shal be as the isles of to we and your worke as a sparke and both shal be set on fire together and there shal be none to quench it CHAP. II. Al nations shal come to the Church of Christ which shal beginne in Ierusalem 6. And the Iewes shal be reiected for their idolatrie auarice and other sinnes 11. Proud men shal be humbled Gods glorie shal increase 18. Idolatrie shal be destroyed THE word that Isaie the sonne of Amos saw vpon Iuda and Ierusalem † And in the later dayes the montaine of the house of our Lord shal be prepared in the toppe of montaines and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and al nations shal flowe vnto it † And manie peoples shal goe shal say come and let vs goe vp to the mount of our Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he wil teach vs his wayes and we shal walke in his pathes because the law shal come forth from Sion and the word of our Lord from Ierusalem † And he shal iudge the Gentiles and rebuke manie peoples and they shal turne their swordes into culters and their speares into siethes nation shal not lift vp sword against nation neither shal they be exercised any more to battel † House of Iacob come ye and let vs walke in the light of our Lord. † For thou hast reiected thy people the house of Iacob because they are filled as in times past and haue had southsayers as the Philisthijms and haue stucke fast to strange children † The land is replenished with siluer and gold and there is no end of their treasures † And their land is replenished with horses and their chariotes are innumerable And their land is ful of idoles they haue adored the worke of their handes which their fingers made † And man bowed himself and man was humbled therfore forgeue them not † Enter thou into the rocke and be hid in a pitte in the ground from the face of the feare of our Lord from the glorie of his maiestie † The loftie eies of man are humbled and the height of men shal be made to stoupe our Lord onlie shal be exalted in that day † Because the day of the Lord of hostes shal be vpon al the proude and loftie and vpon euerie one that is arrogant and he shal be humbled † And vpon al the ceders of Libanus high eleuated vpon al the okes of Basan † And vpon al the high mountaines and vpon al little hilles eleuated † And vpon euerie high towre and euerie fensed wal † And vpon al the shippes of Tharsis and vpon al that is fayre to behold † And the loftines of men shal be bowed and the height of men shal be humbled and our Lord onlie shal be exaited in that day † And idols shal vtterly be destroyed † And they shal enter into the caues of rockes and into the pittes of the earth from the face of the feare of our Lord and from the glorie of his maiestie when he shal rise vp to strike the earth † In that day shal a man castaway the idols of his siluer and the idols of his gold which he had made him to adore mowles and battes † And he shal goe into the clefts of rockes and into the caues of stones from the face of the feare of our Lord and from the glorie of his maiestie when he shal rise vp to strike the earth † Cease therfore from the man whose spirit is in his nosthrels because he is reputed high CHAP. III. The Iewes shal be depriued of wise men 4. and be subiect to childish and effeminate gouerners 8. for their greuous sinnes 16. The proud curious and lasciuious attyre of their wemen 24. shal be turned into ignominie and sorow FOR behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal take away from Ierusalem and from Iuda the valiant and the strong al strength of bread and al strength of water † The strong and the man of warre the iudge and the prophete and southsayer and the ancient † The prince ouer fiftie and the honorable of countenance and the counseler and the wise of workemasters and the skilful of mystical speach † And I wil geue children to be their princes and the effeminate shal rule ouer them † And the people shal rush violently man against man and euerie one against his neighbour the childe shal make tumult against the ancient and the base against the noble † For a man shal take hold of his brother one of the house of his father Thou hast a garment be thou our prince and let this ruine be vnder thy hand † He shal answer in that day saying I am no physicion in my house there is no bread nor garment do not appoint me prince of the people † For Ierusalem is gone to ruine and Iuda is fallen because their tongue their inuentions were against our Lord to prouoke the eyes of his maiestie † The knowlege of their face hath answered them and they haue proclaimed their sinne as Sodom neither haue they hid it woe to their soule because euils are rendered to them † Say to the iust that it is wel because he shal eate the fruite of his inuentions † Woe to the impious vnto euil for the reward of his handes shal be made to him † My people their exactours haue spoyled wemen haue ruled ouer them My people they that cal thee blessed the same deceiue thee and dissipate
the way of thy steppes † Our Lord standeth to iudge and he standeth to iudge peoples † Our Lord shal come to iudgement with the ancients of his people and his princes for you haue deuoured the vineyard and the spoile of the poore is in your house † Why do you consume my people and grinde the faces of the poore sayth our Lord the God of hostes † And our Lord sayd for that the daughters of Sion are haughtie and haue walked with stretched out necke and went with twinglings of eies and clapped their handes walked on their feete and ietted in a set pace † Our Lord shal make balde the crowne of the daughters of Sion and our Lord shal discouer their haire † In that day shal our Lord take away the ornament of shoes and litle moones † And cheynes and ouches and bracelettes and bonnettes † And the sheading combes and sloppes and tablettes and sweete balles and earlets † And ringes and pearles hanging on the forehead † And changes of apparel and shorte clokes and the fine linen and nedles † and loking glasses and launes and headbands and bonegraces † And for swete sauour there shal be stinke and for a girdle a corde and for frisled haire baldnes and for stomacher hairecloth † Thy fayrest men also shal fal by the sworde and thy strong ones in battle † And her gates shal lament and moorne and she shal sit desolate on the ground CHAP. IIII. After the destruction of the Iewes manie wemen shal seeke to marie with one man 2. but the reliques repenting of their sinnes shal returne to God 5. and florish vnder his protection AND seuen wemen shal take hold of one man in that day saying We wil eate our owne bread and be couered with our garments only let thy name be called vpon vs take away our reproch † In that day the bud of our Lord shal be in magnificence and glorie and the fruite of the earth high and exultation to them that shal be saued of Israel † And it shal be Euerie one that shal be leaft in Sion and shal remaine in Ierusalem shal be called holie euerie one that is written in life in Ierusalem † If our Lord shal cleanse the filth of the daughters of Sion and shal wash the bloud of Ierusalem out of the middes thereof in the spirit of iudgement and spirit of heate † And our Lord shal create vpon euerie place of mount Sion and where he is inuocated a clowde by day and smoke and the brightnes of flaming fyre in the night for vpon al glorie protection † And there shal be a tabernacle for a place of shadow in the day from the heate and for securitie and couert from the whyrle wind and from rayne CHAP. V. Vnder the figure of a barren vineyard is prophecied the reiection of the Iewes 7. for their sinnes of auarice 11. intemperance other wickednes 18. one iniquitie drawing an other 20. iudging good to be euil and euil good 25. for which the Gentiles of diuers nations shal afflict them I wil sing to my beloued the canticle of my cosin concerning his vinyard A vineyard was made to my beloued in horne the sonne of oile † And he hedged it and chose stones out of it and planted it elect and built a towre in the middes thereof and set vp a presse therein and looked that it should yeld grapes and it yelded wilde grapes † Now therfore ye inhabitants of Ierusalem and men of Iuda iudge betwen me and my vineyard † What is there that I ought to doe more to my vineyard and haue not done to it Whether that I looked it should yeld grapes and it hath yelded wilde grapes † And now I wil shew you what I wil doe to my vineyard I wil take away the hedge therof and it shal be into spoile I wil throw downe the wal thereof and it shal be to be troden vpon † And I wil lay it waist it shal not be pruned and it shal not be digged and bryers and thornes shal ouergrowe it and I wil command the cloudes that they rayne no shower vpon it † For the vineyarde of the Lord of hostes is the house of Israel and the man of Iuda his delectable bud I looked that it should doe iudgement and behold iniquitie and iustice and behold clamour † Woe to you that ioyne house to house and lay filde to filde euen to the end of the place why shal you alone dwel in the middes of the earth † These thinges are in my eares sayth the Lord of hostes vnles manie great and fayre houses become desolate without an inhabiter † For ten acres of the vineyards shal yeld one litle flagon and thirtie busheles of seede shal yeld three busheles † Woe to you that rise vp earely to folow drunkennes and to drinke euen vntil euening that you may be inflamed with wine † Harpe and viole timbrel and shalme and wine in your feastes and the worke of our Lord you regard not nor consider the workes of his handes † Therfore is my people led away captiue because they had not knowlege and their nobles died with famine and the multitude thereof dried away with thirst † Therfore hath hel dilated his soule and opened his mouth without anie limite and their strong ones and their people and their high and glorious ones shal descend into it † And man shal be bowed and man shal be humbled and the eies of the loftie shal be brought law † And the Lord of hostes shal be exalted in iudgement and the holie God shal be sanctified in iustice † And the lambes shal feede according to their order and strangers shal eate the deserts turned into frutefulnes † Woe to you that draw iniquitie in cordes of vanitie sinne as the linke of a wayne † Which say let him make hast let his worke come quickly that we may see it let the counsel of the holie one of Israel come and we shal know it † Woe vnto you that cal euil good and good euil putting darknes light and light darknes putting bitter for swete swete for bitter † Woe to you that are wise in your owne eies and prudent before yourselues † Woe to you that are mightie to drinke wine stout men in drunkennes † Which iustifie the impious for giftes and take away the iustice of the iust from them † For this euen as the tongue of fire deuoureth stuble and the heate of the flame burneth it vp so shal their roote be as isles and their bud shal rise vp as dust for they haue cast away the law of the Lord of hostes and haue blasphemed the word of the holie one of Israel † Therfore is the furie of our Lord wrath against his people and he hath stretched out his hand vpon them and striken them and the mountaines were trubled and their carcasses were made as dung in the
day a man shal nourish a young cowe and two ewes † And for the abundance of milke he shal eate butter for butter and honie shal euerie one eate that shal be leaft in the middes of the land † And it shal be in that day euerie place where there shal be a thousand vines for a thousand peeces of siluer they shal be into thornes and bryers † With arrowes and bow they shal goe in thither for bryers and thornes shal be in al the land † And al mountaines that shal be weeded with a weeding hooke the terrour of thornes and bryers shal not come thither and it shal be for the oxe to feede on and cattle to treade vpon CHAP. VIII Vnder the figure of a new name Christs birth of a virgin is againe prophecied 4. but first the kingdomes of Syria and Israel shal be destroyed and Iuda sore afflicted 8. yet conserued with losse of manie 16. which is a mysterie hidden from the Iowes 21. Great euils hang ouer them that depart from the law AND our Lord sayd to me Take thee a great booke write in it with the pen of man Take away the spoiles spedely quickly take prayes † And I tooke to me faithful witnesses Vrias the priest Zacharias the sonne of Barachias † And I went to the prophetesse and she conceiued and bare a sonne And our Lord sayd to me Cal his name Hasten to take away the spoiles make hast to take prayes † For before the childe know to cal his father and his mother the strength of Damascus shal be taken away and the spoiles of Samaria before the king of the Assirians † And our Lord added yet to speake vnto me saying † For that this people hath cast away the waters of Siloé that runne with silence and rather taken Rasin and the sonne of Romelia † for this cause behold our Lord wil bring vpon them the waters of the riuer strong and manie the king of the Assirians and al his glorie and he wil ascend ouer al their riuers and wil flowe ouer al their bankes † And wil goe through Iuda ouerflowing and passing through shal come euen to the necke And the stretching out of his winges shal fil the bredth of thy land ô Emmanuel † Gather ye together ô peoples and be ouercome and heare al ye landes far of Take courege and be ouercome gird yourselues be ouercome † Take counsel and it shal be defeated speake a word and it shal not be done because God is with vs. † For thus sayth our Lord to me As in a strong arme he hath taught me that I should not walke in the way of this people saying † Say not Conspiracie for al thinges that this people speaketh is conspiracie and feare ye not their feare neither dread ye † The Lord of hostes him sanctifie ye be he your dread and he your terrour † And he shal be a sanctification to you But for a stone of offence and for a rocke of scandal to the two houses of Israel for a snare and a ruine to the inhabitants of Ierusalem † And verie manie of them shal stumble and fal and shal be broken in peeces and shal be snared and taken † Binde the testimonie seale the law in my disciples † And I wil expect our Lord who hath hid his face from the house of Iacob and I wil wayte for him † Behold I and my children whom our Lord hath geuen me for a signe and for a wonder in Israel from the Lord of hostes which dwelleth in mount Sion † And when they shal say to you Aske of Pythones and of diuiners which whisper in their inchantments shal not the people aske vision of their God for the liuing of the dead † To the law rather and to the testimonie And if they speake not according to this word they shal not haue the morning light † And he shal passe by it shal fal and be hungrie and when he shal be hungrie he wil be angrie and curse his king and his God and wil looke vpwards † And he wil looke to the earth and behold tribulation and darknes dissolution and distresse and mist persecuting and he can not flie away from his distresse CHAP. IX Theglath Phalasar carieth some Israelites captiue and Salman asar manie more in figure of a few disciples conuerted to Christ in Gallilee and al Iewrie but manie more in the whole world 7. Whose Impyre shal be great and durable 8. but the Iewes glorie especially of the tenne tribes shal be obscured for their pride hypochrisie and other sinnes AT the first time was the land of Zabulon alleuiated and the land of Nepthali and at the last was aggrauated the way of the sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles † The people that walked in darknes hath sene great light to them that dwelt in the countrie of the shadow of death light is risen † Thou hast multiplied the nation and not magnified the ioy They shal reioyce before thee as they that reioyce in haruest as conquerors reioyce after a pray is taken when they diuide the spoiles † For the yoke of their burden and the rod of their shoulder and the scepter of their exactour thou hast ouercome as in the day of Madian † Because al violent taking of pray with tumult and garment mingled with bloud shal be to be burnt and foode for the fyre † For A LITLE CHILD IS BORNE TO VS and a sonne is geuen to vs and principalitie is made vpon his shoulder and his name shal be called Meruelous Counseler God Strong Father of the world to come the Prince of peace † His empire shal be multiplied and there shal be no end of peace he shal sit vpon the throne of Dauid and vpon his kingdom that he may confirme it and strengthen it in iudgement and iustice from this time for euer the zeale of the Lord of hostes shal doe this † Our Lord hath sent a word into Iacob and it is fallen in Israel † And al the people of Ephraim shal know the inhabitans of Samaria saying in pride greatnes of hart † Brickes are fallen but we wil build with square stones they haue cut downe sycomores but we wil change them into ceders † And our Lord shal lifte vp the enemies of Rasin ouer him and shal turne his enemies into tumult † Syria from the East and the Philisthims from the West and they shal deuoure Israel with ful mouth In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth † And the people is not returned to him who hath strooken them and haue not sought after the Lord of hostes † And our Lord shal destroy from Israel the head the tayle the peruerter and restrayner in one day † The aged and honorable he is the head the prophet that teacheth a lie he is the
tayle † And they that cal this people blessed seducing them and that are called blessed shal be throwen headlong † For this cause our Lord shal not reioyce vpon their yong men and on their pupilles and widowes he shal not haue mercie because euerie one is an hypocrite wicked and euerie mouth hath spoken follie In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth † For impietie is kindled as a fyre it shal deuoure bryer and thorne and it shal be kindled in the thicket of the forest and it shal be wrapped vp together in the pride of smoke † In the wrath of the Lord of hostes the earth is trubled and the people shal be foode for the fyre man shal not spare his brother † And he shal decline to the right hand and shal be hungrie and shal eate on the left hand and shal not be filled euerie one shal eate the flesh of his arme Manasses Ephraim and Ephraim Manasses they together against Iuda † In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth CHAP. X. Makers of wicked lawes are cursed 3. For which the Israelites shal be afflicted by the Assirians 5. The Assirians ouerthrowne by extraordinarie meanes sent from God 21. and the Iewes deliuered from imminent danger with diuers mysteries of Christ intermixed VVOE to them that make wicked lawes and writing haue written iniustice † That they might oppresse the poore in iudgement doe violence to the cause of the humble of my people that widowes might be their praye and they might spoile pupilles † What wil you doe in the day of visitation and of calamitie coming from farre to whose helpe wil ye flee and where wil ye leaue your glorie † That you be not bowed vnder the bond and fal with the slaine In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth † Woe to Assur he is the rod of my furie and the staffe myne indignation is in their handes † I wil send him to a deceitful nation I wil geue him commandment against the people of my furie that he take away spoiles and catche the praye and put them to be troden vpon as the mire of the streates † But he shal not so thinke and his hart shal not esteme it so but his hart shal be set to destroy and to the destruction of no few nations † For he shal say † Are not my princes with al kinges Is not as Charcamis so Calano and as Arphad so Emath Is not as Damascus so Samaria † Euen as my hand hath found the kingdomes of the idol so also their idols of Ierusalem of Samaria † Shal I not as I haue done to Samaria and her idols so do to Ierusalem and her idols † And it shal be when the Lord shal haue accomplished al his workes in mount Sion and in Ierusalem I wil visite ouer the fruite of the magnifical hart of the king of Assur and ouer the glorie of the hautines of his eyes † For he hath said In the strength of mine owne hand haue I done it and in mine owne wisdome haue I vnderstood and I haue taken away the borders of peoples and haue spoiled their princes and haue pulled downe as a mightie man them that sate on high † And my hand hath found the strength of peoples as a nest and as egges be gathered that are leaft so haue I gathered together al the earth and there was none that moued wing and opened mouth and once muttered † Shal the axe glorie against him that cutteth with it or shal the saw exalt itselfe against him by whom it is drawen As if a rod should lift vp itself agaynst him that lifteth it vp and a staffe exalt itself which is certes but wood † For this cause the Dominatour the Lord of hostes shal send leannes in his fat ones and vnder his glorie shal burne as it were the burning of fyre kindled † And the light of Israel shal be in fyre and the Holie one therof in flame and his thorne shal be kindled and be deuoured and the briars in one day † And the glorie of his forest and of his carmelus shal be consumed from the soule euen to the flesh and he shal be a fugitiue for feare † And the remaynes of the woode of his forest for the fewnes shal be numbred and a child shal write them † And it shal be in that day the residue of Israel and they that shal escape of the house of Iacob shal not adde to leane vpon him that striketh them but they shal leane vpon our Lord the holie one of Israel in truth † The remnant shal be conuerted the remnant I say of Iacob to the strong God † For if thy people ô Israel shal be as the sand of the sea the remnant therof shal be conuerted consumnation abbridged shal make iustice ouerflow † For our Lord the God of hostes shal make consummation and abbridgement in the middes of al the earth † For this cause thus sayth our Lord the God of hostes O my people inhatiter of Sion be not afrayd of Assur he shal strike thee with his rod and shal lift vp his staffe ouer thee in the way of Aegypt † For yet a litle and a very litle and mine indignation and furie vpon their wickednes shal be consummate † And the Lord of hostes shal rayse vp a scourge vpon him according to the plague of Madian in the Rocke Oreb and his rod vpon the sea and he shal lift it vp in the way of Aegypt † And it shal be in that day his burden shal be taken away from of thy shoulder and his yoke from of thy necke and the yoke shal putrifie at the face of oile † He shal come into Aiath he shal passe into Magron at Machmas he shal commend his vessels † They haue passed in hast Gaba is our seate Rama was astonied Gabaath of Saul fled † Neay with thy voice ô daughter of Gallim attend Laisa seelie poore Anathoth † Medemena is remoued ye inhabitants of Gabin take courege † Yet there is day to stand in Nobe he shal shake his hand ouer the mountaine of the daughter of Sion the litle hil of Ierusalem † Behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal breake the litle flagon in terrour and the high of stature shal be cut downe and the loftie shal be humbled † And the thicke places of the forest shal be ouerthrowen with iron and Libanus with the high ones shal fal CHAP. XI Christ borne of the stock of Iesse replenished with seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost 4. shal haue a spiritual kindom most iust and potent 10. wherto al nations wil repayre AND a rod shal come forth of the roote of Iesse and a flowre shal rise vp out of his roote † And the Spirite
most proud and mightie shal be throwne into extreme miserie 24. In the meane time the Asirians beseging Ierusalem shal be defeated 28. Neither shal the Philistims preuaile against the lewes as they presume IT is neere that the time therof shal come and the daies therof shal not be porlonged For our Lord wil haue mercie on Iacob and wil yet choose out of Israel and wil make them rest vpon their owne ground the stranger shal be ioyned to them shal sticke to the house of Iacob † And peoples shal hold them and bring them into their place and the house of Israel shal possesse them vpon the land of our Lord for seruants and handmaides and they shallead captiue those that had taken them shal subdewe their exactours † And it shal be in that day when God shal geue thee rest from thy labour and from thy vexation and from the sore seruitude which thou didst serue before † Thou shalt take this parable against the king of Babylon and shalt say How hath the exactour ceased the tribute rested † Our Lord hath broken the staffe of the impious the rodde of the rulers † that did beate peoples in indignation with vncurable wound subdewing nations in furie persecuting cruelly † Al earth is quiet and stil is glad hath reioyced † The firre trees also haue reioyeed ouer thee and the ceders of Libanus since thou hast slept there hath none come vp to hewe vs. † Hel beneath is trubled to meete thy coming it hath raysed vp the giants for thee Al the princes of the earth are risen vp from their thrones al the princes of nations † Al shal answere and say to thee Thou also art wounded euen as we made like vnto vs. † Thy pride is drawen downe to hel thy carcasse is fallen vnder thee shal the mothe be strawed and wormes shal be thy couering † How art thou fallen from heauen Lucifer which didst rise in the morning art thou fallen to the earth that didst wound nations † Which didst say in thy hart I wil ascend into heauen aboue the starres of God wil I exalt my throne I wil sitte in the mount of the testament in the sides of the North. † I wil ascend aboue the height of the cloudes I wil be like to the Highest † But yet thou shalt be drawen downe to hel into the depth oh the lake † They that shal see thee shal turne toward thee behold thee Is this the man that trubled the earth that shaked kingdomes † that made the world a desert destroyed the cities therof opened not the prison to his prisoners † Al the kinges of the nations euerie one haue slept in glorie eche man in his owne house † But thou art cast forth out of thy sepulchre as an vnprofitable branche polluted and wrapped vp with them that were slaine by the sword and are gone downe to the fundations of the lake as a rotten carcasse † Thou shalt not keepe companie with them neither in burial for thou hast destroyed thy land thou hast slaine thy people the seede of the wicked shal not be named for euer † Prepare his children to slaughter in the iniquitie of their fathers they shal not rise vp nor inherite the land nor fil the world with cities † And I wil rise ouer them sayth the Lord of hostes I wil destroy the name of Babylon and the remaynes and bud and progenie sayth our Lord. † And I wil make it the possession of the hedgehog marri●es of waters I wil sweepe it with besome wearing it sayth the Lord of hostes † The Lord of hostes hath sworne saying If it shal not be as I haue thought and so fal out as I haue in mind consulted † That I destroy the Assirian in my land and in my mountaines tread vpon him and his yoke shal be taken away from them and his burden taken of from their shoulder † This is the counsel that I haue deuised vpon al the earth and this is the hand stretched forth vpon al nations † For the Lord of hostes hath decreed and who can weaken it and his hand is stretched out and who shal turne it away † In the yeare that king Achaz died was this burden made † Reioyce not thou whole Philistaea that the rod of thy striker is broken in peeces for from the roote of the serpent shal issue forth a cockatrice and his seede swalowing the bird † And the first borne of the poore shal be fed the poore shal rest considently and I wil make thy roote to perish in famine and wil kil thy remnant † Howle thou gate crie out ô citie al Philisthaea is throwen downe for a smoke shal come from the North and there is none that shal escape his troupe † And what shal be answered to the messengers of nations That our Lord hath founded Sion and the poore of his people shal hope in him CHAP. XV. Unexpected ruine shal fal vpon the Moabites 5. Wherof the Prophet hath compassion THE burden of Moab Because Ar-Moab was wasted in the night he hath held his peace because the wal of Moab is destroyed in the night he hath held his peace † The house is gone vp Dibon to the high places to moorne vpon Nabo and vpon Medaba shal Moab howle on al the heades therof baldnes and euerie beard shal be shauen † In the high wayes therof they are girded with sackcloth vpon the roofes therof and in the streates therof al howling goeth downe to weepe † Hesebon shal crie Elealé their voice is heard euen to ●asa For this shal the wel appoynted of Moab howle his soule shal howle to himself † My hart shal crie to Moab the barres therof vnto Segor an heifer astonishing for by the ascent of Luith he shal goe vp weeping in the way of Oronaim they shal lift vp a crie of contrition † For the waters of Nemrim shal be made desolate because the grasse is withered the spring is faded al grennes is perished † According to the greatnes of the worke is also their visitation they shal lead them to the torrent of willowes † Because the crie shal goe round about the border of Moab vnto Gallim the howling therof and vnto the Pit-Elim the crie therof † Because the waters of Dibon are replenished with bloud for I wil pur additions vpon Dibon the ●on for them that shal flee of Moab and for the remmant of the land CHAP. XVI The prophet prayeth for and prophecieth Christs coming 6. adding more of the affliction of the Moabites for their pride SEND forth ô Lord the lambe the dominatour of the earth from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion † And he shal be as a bird fleing and the yong flying out of the nest so shal the daughters of Moab be in the passage of Arnon
† Take counsel gather a councel set thy shadow in the midday as it were night hide them that flee and them that wander bewray not † My fugitiues shal dwel with thee Moab be thou their couert from the face of the destroyer for the dust is ended the wretch is come to naught he hath failed that trode downe the earth † And a throne shal be prepared in mercie and there shal sit vpon it in truth in the tabernacle of Dauid he that iudgeth and seketh iudgement and quickly rendereth that which is iust † We haue heard the pride of Moab he is proud excedingly his pride and his arrogancie and his indignation is more then his strength † Therfore shal Moab howle to Moab al shal howle to them that reioyce vpon the walles of baqued bricke tel ye their plagues † Because the suburbes of Hesebon are desolate and the vineyard of Sabama the lords of the Nations haue cut of the branches therof haue reached to Iazer they wandered in the desert the branches therof are leaft they passed ouer the sea † For this I wil lament in the weeping of Iazer the yineyard of Sabama I wil inebriate thee with my teare ô Hesebon and Elealé because the voice of the treaders is rush● in vpon thy vintage and vpon thy haruest † And gladnes and ioy shal be taken away from Carmelus and it shal not reioyce nor make iubilation in vineyards He shal not treade wine in the presse that was wonte to treade the voice of the treaders I haue taken away † For this my bellie shal sound as an harpe to Moab my bowels to the wal of baqued bricke † And it ●shal be when it shal appeare that Moab hath laboured for his excelses he shal goe in to his sanctuaries to pray shal not preuaile † This is the word that our Lord spake to Moab from that time † and now our Lord hath spoken saying In three yeares as the yeares of an hired seruant the glorie of Moab shal be taken away vpon al the multitude of people and it shal be leaft litle and smal not much CHAP. XVII Damascus with other Syrians shal be afflicted 4. likewise the tenne tribes of Israel 7. Of which some few persons wil returne to God 12. And finally their enimies the Assirians shal be ouerthrowne THE burden of Damascus Behold Damascus shal cease to be a citie and shal be as an heape of stones in ruine † The forsaken cities of Aroer shal be for flockes and they shal rest there and there shal be none to terrifie them † And ayde shal cease from Ephraim and the kingdom from Damascus and the remnant of Syria shal be as the glorie of the children of Israel sayth the Lord of hostes † And it shal be in that day the glorie of Iacob shal be diminished and the fatnes of his flesh shal become leane † And it shal be as one gathering in haruest that which remayneth and his arme shal gather the eares of corne and it shal be as he that seketh eares in the vale of Raphaim † And the fruite therof shal be leaft as it were a cluster of grapes in it and as the shaking of the oliue tree of two or three oliues in the toppe of a bough or foure or fiue in the toppes therof sayth our Lord the God of Israel † In that day man shal incline himselfe to his maker and his eies shal looke to the holie one of Israel † And he shal not incline to the altars which his handes made and the things that his fingers wrought he shal not regard as groues and temples † In that day the cities of his strength shal be leaft as the ploughes and the corne that were leaft before the face of the children of Israel and thou shalt be desolate † Because thou hast forgotten God thy fauiour and hast not remembred thy strong helper therfore shalt thou plant a faythful plant shalt sow a strange seede † In the day of thy planting shal be the wilde grape in the morning thy seede shal florish the haruest is taken away in the day of inheritance and he shal be vehemently sorie † Woe to the multitude of manie peoples being as the multitude of the sounding sea the tumult of multitudes as the sound of manie waters † Peoples shal sound as the sound of waters ouerflowing and he shal rebuke him and shal flee far of and he shal be violently taken away as the dust of the mountaines at the face of the wind and as a whirlewind before a tempest † In the euentide and behold truble in the morning and he shal not be this is the portion of them that haue wasted vs the lot of them that spoiled vs. CHAP. XVIII The Aegyptians for alluring the two tribes to their confederacie shal be afflicted 7. and the Iewes returne to more sincere seruice of God VVOE to the land the cymbal of winges which is beyond the riuers of Aethiopia † which sendeth legates into the sea and in the vessels of bulrushes vpon the waters Goe ye swift angels to a nation shaken a sunder and torne in peeces to a terrible people after which there is none other to a nation expecting and troden vnder foote whose land the floodes haue spoiled † Al ye inhabitants of the world which abide in the earth where the signe shal be lifted vp in the mountaines you shal see and shal heare the sound of the trumpet † because thus sayth ourd Lord to me I wil rest and consider in my place as the no one light is cleere and as a cloud of dew in the day of haruest † For before haruest it hath wholly florished and vnripe perfection shal spring forth and the boughes therof shal be cut of with hookes and the thinges that are leaft shal be cut of and shaken out † And they shal be left together to the birdes of the mountaynes and beastes of the earth and the foules shal be vpon it the whole summer and al the beastes of the earth shal winter vpon it † In that time shal a gift be brought to the Lord of hostes of a people plucked asunder and rent in peeces of a terrible people after which there hath bene none other of a nation expecting expecting and troden vnder foote whose land the floudes haue spoiled to the place of the name of the Lord of hostes mount Sion CHAP. XIX Further description of the Aegyptians punishment 17. With their conuersion to Christ in the new Testament THE burden of Aegypt Behold our Lord wil ascend vpon a swift cloude and wil enter into Aegypt and the idols of Aegypt shal be moued at his presence the hart of Aegypt shal melt in the middes therof † And I wil make the Aegyptians to runne together against the Aegyptians and a man shal fight against his brother and euerie man against his freind citie against citie
darkenes made me astonied Babylon my beloued is made a miracle vnto me † Lay the table looke about in the watch towre the eaters and drinkers arise ye princes take shield † For thus hath our Lord sayd to me Goe and set a watchman and what soeuer he shal see let him tel † And he saw a chariote of two horsemen a rider vpon an asse and a rider vpon a camel and he beheld them diligently with much looking † And a lion cried I am vpon the watch towre of our Lord standing continually by day and I am vpon my watch standing whole nights † Behold this man cometh the rider vpon the chariot of two horsemen and he answered and said Fallen fallen is Babylon and al the sculptils of the gods therof are broken to the ground † O my threshing and children of my flore the thinges that I haue heard of the Lord of hostes the God of Israel I haue shewed vnto you † The burden of Duma crieth to me out of Seir Watchman what of the night watchman what of the night † The watchman said morning is come night if you seeke seeke returne come † The burden in Arabia In the forest at euen you shal sleepe in the pathes of Dedanim † Meeting the thirstie bring water you that inhabite the land of the South with bread meete him that fleeth † For they are fled from the face of the swordes from the face of the sword hanging ouer from the face of the bow bent from the face of a greuous battel † Because thus sayth our Lord to me Yet in one yeare as in the yeare of an hyred man and al the glorie of Cedar shal be taken away † And the remnant of the number of the strong archers of the children of Cedar shal be diminished for our Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it CHAP. XXII For the sinnes especially of chiefe officers Sion and the temple shal be destroyed 15. Sobna a wicked ruler shal be remoued 20. and Eliacim put in his place THE burden of the vale of vision What aileth thee that thou art also wholly gone vp into the house toppes † ful of clamour a populous citie reioycing thy slaine are not slaine by the sword nor dead in battel † Al thy princes are fled together and are bound hard al that were found are bound together they are fled far of † Therfore haue I sayd Depart from me I wil weepe bitterly labour not to comforte me for the destruction of the daughter of my people † For it is a day of slaughter and conculcation and weepings to our Lord the God of hostes in the vale of visitation searching the wal and magnifical vpon the mountaine † And Aelam tooke quiuer chariote of the horsman and the shilde hath made the wal naked † And thy principal valleis shal be ful of chariots and the horsmen shal place them selues in the gate † And the couering of Iuda shal be discouered and thou shalt see in that day the armourie of the house of the forest † And you shal see the breaches of the citie of Dauid because they are multiplied and you haue gathered together the waters of the lower poole † and haue numbred the houses of Ierusalem and destroyed houses to fortifie the wal † And you haue made a lake betwen the two walles to the water of old poole and you looked not vp to him that made it and the worker therof long before you saw not † And our Lord the God of hostes shal cal in that day to weeping and to moorning to baldnes and to girdle of sackcloth † and behold ioy and gladnes to kil calues and to slea rammes to eate flesh and to drinke wine Let vs eate and drinke for tomorow we shal die † And the voice of the Lord of hostes was reuealed in mine eares If this iniquitie shal be forgeuen you vntil you die sayth our Lord the God of hosles † Thus sayth our Lord the God of hostes Goe get thee in to him that dwelleth in the tabernacle to Sobna the prouost of the temple and thou shalt say to him † What doest thou here or as if thou were some bodie here because thou hast cut thee out a sepulchre here thou hast cut out a memorial diligently in an high place a tabernacle for thee in a rocke † Behold our Lord wil cause thee to be caried away as a cocke is caried and he wil lift thee vp as a garment † Crowning he wil crowne thee with tribulation he wil cast thee as a bal into a brode and large countrie there shalt thou die and there shal the chariot of thy glorie be the ignominie of the house of thy Lord. † And I wil expel thee from thy standing and depose thee from thy ministerie † And it shal be in that day I wil cal my seruant Eliacim the sonne of Helcias † and wil cloth him with thy coate and wil strengthen him with thy girdle and wil geue thy powre into his hand and he shal be as a father to the inhabitants of Ierusalem and to the house of Iuda † And I wil geue the key of the house of Dauid vpon his shoulder he shal open and there shal be none to shut and he shal shut and there shal be none to open † And I wil fasten him as a pinne in a sure place he shal be for a throne of glorie to the house of his father † And they shal hang vpon him al the glorie of his fathers house diuerse kindes of vessels euerie litle vessel from vessels of cuppes euen to euerie instrument of musike † In that day saith the Lord of hostes shal the pinne be taken away that was fastened in the sure place and that which hong theron shal be broken and fal and perish because our Lord hath spoken CHAP. XXIII The destruction of Tyrus by the Chaldees 15. and reparation therof after seuentie yeares THE burden of Tyre Howle ye shippes of the sea because the house is destroyed from whence they were wont to come from the land of Cethim it is reueled to them † Hold your peace ye that dwel in the I le the trafickers of Sidon passing ouer the sea haue replenished thee † The seede of Nilus in manie waters the haruest of the riuer was her fruites she was made the trafike of the nations † Be ashamed Sidon for the sea sayth the strength of the sea saying I haue not trauailed and I haue not brought forth and I haue not nourished yongmen nor brought virgins to their growth † When it shal be heard in Aegypt they wil be sorie when they shal heare of Tyre † Passe ouer the seas howle ye that dwel in the I le † Is not this your citie which gloried from ancient dayes in her antiquitie her feete shal leade her afarre to seiourne † Who hath thought this against Tyre that was some
time crowned whose merchants were princes her chapmen the nobles of the earth † The Lord of hostes hath thought it that he might plucke downe the pride of al glorie and bring al the glorious of the earth to ignominie † Passe thy land as a riuer ô daughter of the sea thou hast a girdle no more † He hath stretched forth his hand vpon the sea he hath trubled kingdomes Our Lord hath geuen commandment against Chanaan to destroy the strong therof † and he said Thou shalt adde no more to glorie ô Virgin daughter of Sidon susteyning calumnie rising vp saile ouer to Cethim there also thou shalt haue no rest † Behold the land of the Chaldees was not such a people Assur founded it they led away the strong therof into captiuitie they vndermined the houses therof they brought it to ruine † Howle ye shippes of the sea because your strength is destroyed † And it shal be in that day thou shalt be in obliuion ô Tyre seuentie yeares as the daies of one king but after seuentie yeares there shal be to Tyre as it were the song of an harlot † Take an harpe goe about the citie thou harlot forgotten sing wel multiplie song that there may be remembrance of thee † And it shal be after seuentie yeares our Lord wil visite Tyre and wil bring her backe againe to her merchandise and she shal fornicate againe with al the kingdoms of the earth vpon the face of the earth † And the martes and rewards shal be sanctified to our Lord they shal not be kept in store nor layd vp because her merchandise shal be for them that shal dwel before our Lord that they may eate vnto fatietie and be clothed vnto continuance CHAP. XXIIII Al this world shal be destroyed 7. wherof manie signes shal come before 18. and general iudgement shal folow BEHOLD our Lord shal dissipate the earth and make it naked and afflict the face therof and disperse the inhabitants therof † And as the people so shal the priest be as the seruant so his master as the handmayde so her mistresse as the byer so he that selleth as the lender so he that boroweth as he that asketh his dewe so he that oweth † With dissipation shal the earth be dissipated and with spoile it shal be spoiled for our Lord hath spoken this worde † The earth hath mourned and fallen away and is weakened the world is fallen away the height of the people of the earth is weakened † And the earth is infected by the inhabitants therof because they haue transgressed the lawes changed right dissipated the euerlasting couenant † For this cause shal malediction deuoure the earth the inhabitants therof shal sinne and therfore the dwellers therein shal be madde few men shal be leaft † The vintage hath mourned the vine is weakened al haue sighed that reioyced in hart † The ioy of tymbrels hath ceased the sound of them that reioyce is least of the sweetnes of the harpe is silent † They shal not drinke wine with song the drinke shal be bitter to them that drinke it † The citie of vanitie is broken downe euerie house is shut no man goeth in † There shal be crying for the wine in the streetes al mirth is left the ioy of the earth is caried away † Desolation is left in the citie and calamitie shal oppresse the gates † Because these thinges shal be in the middes of the earth in the middes of peoples in like maner as if a few oliues which are remayning should be shaken out of the oliue tree and grapes when the vintage is ended † These shal lift vp their voice and prayse when our Lord shal be glorified they shal make a ioyful noise from the sea † For this cause in doctrines glorifie our Lord in the iles of the sea the name of our Lord the God of Israel † From the endes of the earth we haue heard praises the glorie of the iust one And I sayd My secrete to me my secrete to me woe is me the preuaricatours haue preuaricated and by the preuarication of trangressors they haue preuaricated † Feare and pitte and snare vpon thee that art inhabiter of the earth † And it shal be He that shal flee from the voice of feare shal fal into the pitte and he that shal rid him selfe out of the pitte shal be held in the snare because the fludgates from on high are opened and the fundations of the earth shal be shaken † With breaking shal the earth the broken with bruising shal the earth be bruised with mouing shal the earth be moued † With shaking shal the earth be shaken as a drunken man and shal be taken away as the tabernacle of one night and the iniquitie therof shal be heauie vpon it and it shal fal and not adde to rise againe † And it thal be In that day our Lord wil visite vpon the hoste of heauen on high and vpon the kinges of the earth that are vpon the earth † And they shal be gathered together as the gathering of a bundel into the lake and shal be shut there in prison and after manie daies they shal be visited † And the moone shal be confounded when the Lord of hostes shal reigne in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be glorified in the sight of his ancients CHAP. XXV The Prophet geueth thankes to God for his meruelous workes 7. and great benefites in lightning manie with faith washing away sinnes and geuing grace and eternal glorie OLORD thou art my God I wil exalt thee and confesse to thy name because thou hast done meruelous thinges the old cogitations faithful Amen † Because thou hast brought the citie into a heape the strong citie into ruine the house of strangers that it be no citie that it be not built for euer † For this shal strong people prayse thee the citie of strong nations shal feare thee † Because thou art become a strength to the poore a strength to the needie in his tribulation an hope against the whirlwinde a shadow against the heate For the spirit of the strong is as a whirlwinde beating against a wal † As heate in thirst shalt thou humble the tumult of strangers and as with heate vnder a burning cloude thou shalt make the branch of the strong to wither † And the Lord of hostes shal make to al peoples in this mount a feast of fat thinges a feast of vintage of fat thinges ful of marrow of vintage purified from the dregges † And he shal in this mount throw downe headlong the face of the bond tied together vpon al peoples and the webbe that he hath begune vpon al nations † He shal cast death downe headlong for euer and our Lord God shal take away teare from al face and the reproch of his people he shal take away out of the whole earth because our Lord hath
spoken it † And he shal say in that day Loe this is our God we haue expected him and he wil saue vs this is our Lord we haue patiently wayted for him we shal reioyce and be ioyful in his saluation † Because the hand of our Lord shal rest in this mount and Moab shal be treshed vnder him as straw is broken with the wayne † And he shal stretch forth his handes vnder him as he that swimmeth stretcheth forth to swimme and he shal humble his glorie with dashing of his handes † And the munitions of thy high walles shal fal and be humbled shal be plucked downe to the grownd euen to the dust CHAP. XXVI A Canticle of thankes for changing the old Synagogue into the Church of Christ Which hath more light of true faith 12. and more patience in tribulations 19. Which in the general resurrection shal be made manifest IN THAT day shal this song be sung in the land of Iuda Sion the citie of our strength a Sauiour therin shal be put a wal and bulworke † Open ye the gates and let the iust nation enter in that keepeth truth † The old errour is gone thou wilt keepe peace peace because we haue hoped in thee † You haue hoped in our Lord in worldes euerlasting in our Lord God strong for euer † Because he wil bowe downe them that dwel on high the high citie he wil abase He wil abase it euen to the ground he wil plucke it downe euen to the dust The foote shal treade it downe the feete of the poore the steppes of the needie † The path of the iust is right the path of the iust is right to walke in † And in the path of thy iudgements ô Lord we haue patiently expected thee thy name and thy memorial are in the desire of the soule † My soule hath desired thee in the night yea and with my spirit in my hart I wil watch to thee in the morning When thou shalt doe thy iudgments in the earth the inhabitants of the world shal learne iustice † Let vs haue mercie on the impious and he wil not learne iustice in the land of the holie he hath done wicked thinges and he shal not see the glorie of our Lord. † Lord thy hand be exalted and let them not see let the enuious people see and be confounded and let fyre deuoure thine enimies † Lord thou wilt geue peace to vs for al our workes thou hast wrought to vs. † O Lord our God there haue lordes besides thee possessed vs onlie in thee let vs remember thy name † Let not the dead liue let not the giants rise againe therfore hast thou visited and destroyed them hast destroyed al their memorie † Thou hast bene fauorable to the nation ô Lord thou hast bene fauourable to the nation wast thou glorified thou hast made al the endes of the earth far of † Lord in distresse they haue sought after thee in tribulation of murmur thy doctrine was to them † As she that conceiueth when she draweth neere to be deliuered being sorowful crieth in her paines so are we become at thy presence ô Lord. † We haue conceiued and as it were traueled and brought forth the spirit saluations we haue not done in the earth therfore the inhabitants of the earth haue not fallen † Thy dead shal liue my slaine shal rise againe awake and prayse ye that dwel in the dust because the dew of the light is thy dew the land of the giants thou shalt plucke downe into ruine † Goe my people enter into thy chambers shut thy doores vpon thee be hid a litle for a moment til the indignation passe † For behold our Lord wil come out of his place to visite the iniquitie of the inhabitant of the earth against him and the earth shal reuele her bloud and shal couer her slaine no more CHAP. XXVII God comforteth the faithful promising to destroy the wicked 3. Christs coming is againe prophecied with propagation of his Gospel and conuersion of al nations IN that day our Lord wil visite with his sore and great and strong sword vpon Leuiathan the serpent the barre and vpon Leuiathan the crooked serpent and shal kil the whale that is in the sea † In that day the vineyard of pure wine shal sing to it † I the Lord that keepe it I wil sodenly drinke to it lest perhaps there be visitation agaynst it night and day I kepe it † There is no indignation in me who wil geue me to be thorne and bryer in battel to goe vpon it to set it on fyre together † Or rather shal he hold my strength shal he make peace with me shal he make peace with me † They that goe in with violence to Iacob Israel shal florish and spring and they shal fil the face of the world with seede † Hath he striken him according to his stroke that stroke him or as he killed his slaine is he killed † In measure against measure when it shal be cast of thou shalt iudge it He hath meditated in his hard spirite during the day of heate † Therfore vpon this shal the iniquitie be forgeuen to the house of Iacob and this is al the fruite that the sinne therof be taken away when he shal haue layd al the stones of the altar as stones of ashes broken the groues temples shal not stand † For the defensed citie shal be desolate the beautiful citie shal be forsaken and shal be left as a desert there shal the calfe feede and there he shal lie and shal consume the toppes therof † The haruests therof shal be destroyed in drught wemen coming and teaching it for it is not a wise people therfore shal not he that made it haue mercie on it and he that formed it shal not spare it † And it shal be in that day our Lord wil strike from the chanel of the riuer euen to the torrent of Aegypt and you shal be gathered together one and one ô children of Israel † And it shal be in that day a sound shal be made with a great trompet and they that were lost shal come from the land of the Assirians and that were cast out from the land of Aegypt and shal adore our Lord in the holie mount in Ierusalem CHAP. XXVIII Tribulations are threatned to the tenne tribes of Israel for their pride and voluptuosnes 5. God stil protecting some who serue him sincerely 7 and for contempt of Religion 16. But God wil lay a sure fundation in Sion 20. Wil punish the wicked 24. and comforth the good VVOE to the crowne of pride to the drunkards of Ephraim and to the flowre falling downe from the glorie of his exultation which were in the toppe of the most fatte valley erring by wine † Behold our Lord is valiant and strong as the violence of hayle a whirle wind breaking the
violence of manie waters ouerflowing sent forth vpon a large ground † The crowne of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shal be troden vnder feete † And the flowre of the glorie of his exultation which is vpon the toppe of the valley of fatte ones shal be falling as a timely fruite before the ripenesse of autumme which when he that seeth it shal behold as soone as he taketh it in his hand he wil deuoure it † In that day the Lord of hostes shal be a crowne of glorie and a garland of exultation to the residue of his people † and a spirit of iudgement to him that sitteth in iudgement and strength to them that returne out of battel to the gate † But these also haue bene ignorant because of wine and by drunkennes haue erred the priest and the prophete haue bene ignorant because of drunkennes they are swalowed vp with wine they haue erred in drunkennes they haue not knowne him that seeth they haue bene ignorant of iudgement † For al tables were filled with vomiting and filth so that there was no more place † Whom shal he teach knowledge and whom shal he make to vnderstand the thing heard them that are weyned from the milke that are plucked away from the breasts † For command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there † For in the speach of lippe and in an other tougue he wil speake to his people † To whom he sayd This is my rest refresh the wearie and this is my refreshing they would not heare † And the word of our Lord shal be to them command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there that they may goe and fal backward and be destroyed and snared and taken † For this cause heare the word of our Lord ye scorneful men which rule ouer my people that is in Ierusalem † For you haue sayd We haue stroken a league with death and with hel we haue made a couenant The scourge ouerflowing when it shal passe shal not come vpon vs because we haue made lying our hope and with lying we are protected † Therfore thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil send in the foundations of Sion a stone an approued stone a corner stone pretious founded in the foundation He that beleueth let him not make hast † And I wil put iudgement in weight and iustice in measure and haile shal ouerthrow the hope of lying and waters shal ouerflow the protection † And your league with death shal be abolished and your couenant with hel shal not stand when the scourge ouerflowing shal passe you shal be troden downe of it † Whensoeuer it shal passe through it shal take you away because in the morning early it shal passe through in the day and in the night and vexation alone shal geue vnderstanding in the hearing † For the bed is streitened so that one must fal out and a short mantel can not couer both † For our Lord shal stand as in the mount of diuisions as in the valley which is in Gabaon shal he be angrie that he may doe his worke his strange worke that he may worke his worke is strange from him † And now mocke not lest perhaps your bonds be tied strayte For I haue heard of our Lord the God of hostes consummation and abridgement vpon al the earth † Harken with your eares and heare my voice attend and heare my speach † Wil the ploughman plowe al the day to sow wil he cut and harrow his ground † Wil he not when he hath made euen the face therof sprinkle cummine and place the wheate by order and the barley and millet and vetche in their bondes † And his God wil instruct him in iudgement he wil teach him † For gith shal not be threshed with instruments that haue teeth neither shal the wayne wheele turne about vpon cummine but gith shal be beaten out with a rodde and cummine with a staffe † But bread corne shal be broken smal but the thresher shal not thresh it for euer neither shal the wayne wheele vexe it nor breake it with the teeth therof † And this is come forth from our Lord the God of hostes that he might make his counsel meruelous and magnifie iustice CHAP. XXIX The Prophet bewaleth the Iewes destruction 9. for their blinde obstinacie 17. prophecying the Gentiles conuersion VVOE to Ariel Ariel the citie which Dauid ouercame yeare is added to yeare the solemnities are at an end † And I wil make a trench about Ariel and it shal be sorowful moorning and it shal be to me as Ariel † And I wil compasse as a sphere round about thee and wil cast a rampier against thee and place munitions to besiege thee † Thou shalt be humbled thou shalt speake out of the earth and out of the gronnd thy speach shal be heard and thy voice shal be out of the earth as the Pythons and out of the ground thy speach shal mutter † And the multitude of them that fanne thee shal be as smal dust and as issles passing away the multitude of them that haue preuailed agaynst thee † And it shal be sodenly forthwith It shal be visited of the Lord of hostes in thunder and earth quake and with great voice of whirlewind and tempest and with flame of deuouring fyre † And the multitude of al nations that haue fought agaynst Ariel shal be as the dreame of a vision in the night and al that haue waried and beseged preuailed agaynst it † And as he that is hungrie dreameth eateth but when he is awake his soule is emptie as he that is thirstie dreameth and drinketh and after he is awake faint as yet thirsteth and his soule is emptie so shal the multitude be of al the Gentiles that haue fought agaynst mount Sion † Be astonied and meruel wauer and stagger be ye drunke and not of wine be moued not of drunkenes † Because our Lord hath mingled vnto you the spirit of drowsines he wil shut your eyes he wil couer your prophetes and princes that see visions † And the vision of al shal be vnto you as the wordes of a booke sealed which when they shal geue to him that knoweth letters they shal say Read this and he shal answer I can not for it is sealed † And the booke shal be geuen to one that knoweth not letters and it shal be sayd to him Reade and he shal answer I know not letters † And our Lord sayd Because this people approcheth with their mouth and with their lippes glorifieth me but their hart is far from me and they haue feared me by the commandement and doctrines of men † therfore behold I wil adde to make admiration to this people by a great and wonderful miracle for wisdom
shal perish from their wise men and the vnderstanding of their prudent shal be hid † Woe vnto you that are deepe of hart to hide your counsel from our Lord whose workes are in darkenes and they say Who seeth vs and who knoweth vs † This your cogitation is peruerse as if the clay should thinke against the potter and the worke should say to the maker therof Thou madest me not or the thing formed should say to the fashioner therof Thou vnderstandest not † Shal not yet within a litle while and in a short time Libanus be turned into Charmel Charmel reputed for a forest † And in that day the deafe shal heare the wordes of the booke and out of the darkenes and mist the eies of the blinde shal see † And the meeke shal adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shal reioyce in the holie one of Israel † Because he hath fayled that did preuaile the scorner is consumed and they are al cut downe that watched vpon iniquitie † that made men sinne in word and supplanted him that reproued them in the gate and declined in vayne from the iust † For this cause thus sayth our Lord to the house of Iacob he that redemed Abraham Iacob shal not now be confounded neither shal now his countenance be ashamed † but when he shal see his children the workes of mine handes in the middes of him sanctifying my name and they shal sanctifie the holie one of Iacob and shal preach the God of Israel † and they that erre in spirit shal know vnderstanding and the mutteters shal learne the law CHAP. XXX The Iewes are blamed for seeking counsel and helpe of the Aegyptians 18. but if they repent they shal find releefe and spiritual riches of the soule 27. Gods iudgement wil be strict 33. and hel is most horrible VVOE vnto renegate children sayth our Lord that you would take counsel and not of me would beginne a webbe and not by my spirite that you might adde sinne vpon sinne † which walke to goe downe into Aegypt haue not asked my mouth hoping for helpe in the strength of Pharao and hauing confidence in the shadow of Aegypt † And the strength of Pharao shal be a confusion to you and the confidence of the shadow of Aegypt an ignominie † For thy princes were in Tanis and thy messengers came euen to Hanes † Al were confounded vpon the people that could not profite them they were no helpe nor to any profite but to confusion and to reproch † The burden of the beastes of the South In a land of tribulation and distresse the lionesse and the lion of them the viper the flying basiliscus carying their riches vpon the shoulders of beasts and their treasures vpon the bunch of camels to a people that can not be able to profite them † For Aegypt shal helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cried vpon this It is pride onlie cease † Now therfore going in write to her vpon boxe and drawe it diligently in a booke and it shal be in the latter day for a testimonie for euer † For it is a people prouoking to wrath and lying children children that wil not heare the law of God † Which say to the seers See not and to them that behold Behold vs not those thinges that are right Speake vnto vs pleasant thinges see errours vnto vs. † Take from me the way turne away the path from me let the holie one of Israel cease from our face † Therfore thus sayth the holie one of Israel For that you haue reiected this word haue hoped in calumnie and tumult and haue leaned therevpon † therfore shal this iniquitie be vnto you as a breach that falleth and is found lacking in an high wal because sodenly whiles it is not hoped shal come the destruction therof † And it shal be broken smal as the potters vessel is broken with mightie breaking there shal not a shread be found of the fragments therof wherein a litle fyre may be caried from the burning or a litle water be drawen out of the pitte † Because thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel If you returne and be quiet you shal be saued in silence and in hope shal your strength be And you would not † and you haue sayd No but we wil flee to horses therfore shal you flee And we wil mount vpon swift ones therfore shal they be fwifter that shal persecute you † A thousand men at the face of the terrour of one and at the face of the terrour of fiue shal you flee til you be leaft as the mast of a shippe in the toppe of a mountaine and as a signe vpon a litle hil † Therfore our Lord expecteth that he may haue mercie on you and therfore shal he be exalted sparing you because our Lord is the God of iudgment blessed are al they that expect him † For the people of Sion shal dwel in Ierusalem weeping thou shalt not weepe pitying he wil pitie thee at the voice of thy crie as soone as he shal heare he wil answer thee † And our Lord wil geue you straite bread and short water and wil not make thy doctor to flee away from thee any more and thine eies shal see thy master † And thine eares shal heare the word of him that behinde thy backe admonisheth thee This is the way walke in it and decline ye not neither to the right hand nor to the left † And thou shalt contaminate the plates of the sculptils of thy siluer and the garment of the molten of thy gold and shalt scatter them as the vncleannes of a menstruous woman Thou shalt say to it Get thee hence † And rayne shal be geuen to thy seede wheresoeuer thou shalt sow in the land and the bread of the corne of the land shal be most plentiful and fatte The lambe in that day shal feede at large in thy possession † and thyne oxen as the asse coltes that til the ground shal eate mingled prouender as it was fanned in the floore † And there shal be vpon euerie high mountayne and vpon euerie litle hil eleuated riuers of running waters in the day of the killing of manie when the towres shal fal † And the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne shal be seuenfold as the light of seuen daies in the day when our Lord shal bind vp the wound of his people shal heale the stroke of their wound † Behold the name of our Lord commeth from farre his burning furie and heauie to beare his lippes are filled with indignation and his tongue as a deuouring fire † His spirite as a torrent ouerflowing euen to the middes of the necke to destroy the nations to nothing and the bridle of errour that was in the iawes of peoples † There shal be a song vnto
you as the night of a sanctified solemnitie and ioy of hart as he that goeth with a shaulme to enter into the mount of our Lord to the strong one of Israel † And our Lord shal make the glorie of his voice to be heard and shal shew the terrour of his arme in threatening of furie and flame of deuouring fyre he shal dashe to peeces in whirl winde and in haile stone † For at the voice of our Lord shal Assur feare being stroken with the rod. † And the passage of the rod shal neuer cease which our Lord shal make to rest vpon him in tymbrels and harpes and in principal battels he shal ouerthrow them † For Topheth is prepared since yesterday prepared of the king deepe and wide The nourishments therof fyre much wood the breath of our Lord as a torrent of brinstone kindling it CHAP. XXXI The prophet further bewayleth the Iewes calamitie into which they shal fal for their confederacie with the Aegyptians 5. Yet God wil protect ●erusalem 8. and ouerthrow Senacharib VVOE to them that goe downe into Aegypt for helpe hoping in horses and hauing confidence vpon chariots because they be manie and vpon horsemen because they be very strong and haue not trusted vpon the holie one of Israel haue not sought after our Lord. † But he that is the wise one hath brought euil and hath not taken away his wordes and he wil rise vp against the house of the wicked against the ayde of them that worke iniquitie † Aegypt a man and not God and their horses flesh and not spirite and our Lord shal bowe downe his hand and the helper shal fal and he that is holpen shal fal and they shal al be confounded together † Because thus sayth our Lord to me As if a lion should roare and the lions whelpe vpon his praye when a multitude of shepheards shal come against him he wil not feare at their voice and of their multitude he wil not be afrayd so shal the Lord of hostes descend to fight vpon mount Sion and vpon the litle hil therof † As birdes that flie so wil the Lord of hostes protect Ierusalem protecting and deliuering passing and sauing † Returne as you reuolted deeply ô children of Israel † For in that day man shal cast away the idols of his siluer and the idols of his gold which your handes haue made you into sinne † And Assur shal fal by the sword not of man and the sword not of man shal deuoure him he shal flee not at the face of the sword and his yong men shal be tributaries † and his strength shal passe away at the terrour his princes fleing shal be afrayd our Lord hath sayd it whose fyre is in Sion his fornace in Ierusalem CHAP. XXXII The prophet conforteth the Iewes foreshewing that their king Ezechias wil rule wel and prosper but most especially prophecieth of Christ 9. That they shal be reiected for persecuting him 15. and his Church shal prosper BEHOLD “ the king shal “ reigne in iustice the princes shal rule in iudgement † And a man shal be as he that is hid from the wind and hideth himselfe from a tempest as riuers of waters in drought and the shadow of a rocke that standeth out in a desert ground † The eies of them that see shal not be dimme and the eares of them that heare shal harken diligently † And the hart of fooles shal vnderstand knowlege and the tongue of mafflers shal speake readely and plaine † He that is vnwise shal no more be called prince neither shal the deceitful be called the greater man † for the foole shal speake foolish thinges and his hart shal doe iniquitie that he may worke simulation and speake to our Lord deceitfully and make emptie the soule of the hungrie and take away drinke from the thirstie † The vessels of the deceitful are most wicked for he hath framed deuises to vndoe the meeke with the word of lying when the poore man spake iudgement † But the prince wil thinke these thinges that are worthie of a prince he shal stand aboue the dukes † Ye riche wemen arise and heare my voice ye confident daughters geue eare to my speach † For after dayes a yeare you shal be trubled that haue confidence for the vintage is at an end the gathering wil no more come † Be astonied ye riche wemen be trubled ye confident strippe you and be confounded gird your loynes † Moorne vpon your breasts vpon the countrie worthie to be destroved vpon the fruitful vineyard † Vpon the ground of my people shal thornes and bryars come vp how much more vpon al the houses of ioy of the citie reioycing † For the house is forsaken the multitude of the citie is leaft darkenesse and palpablenesse are made vpon the dennes for euer † The ioy of wilde asses the pastures of flockes vntil the spirit be powred out vpon vs from on high and the desert shal be as charmel and charmel shal be reputed for a forest † And iudgement shal dwel in the wildernes and iustice shal sit in charmel † And the worke of iustice shal be peace and the seruice of iustice silence and securitie for euer † And my people shal sitte in the beautie of peace and in the tabernacles of confidence and in wealthie rest † But haile in falling vpon the forest and the citie shal be humbled with lownesse † Blessed are ye that sow vpon al waters sending in the foote of the oxe and the asse ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXII 1. The king shal reigne Some expound this whole passage of Ezechias or Iosias kinges of Iuda and of the chiefe princes vnder them but so great effectes as be here prophecied were not fully verified in them but as in figure only of a more excellent king and his principal seruantes that should folovv aftervvards For albeit these vvere very good kinges and had good and vvise counselers gouerners vnder them yet they had not that perfect iudgement nor performed that complete iustice vvherby the subiectes enioyed such peace rest safetie and consolation as be here described by the metaphores and similitudes of men hid from vvinde safe from tempest refreshed vvith waters in their heate and shadovved by a rock from the burning sunne in the desert vvith the like And therfore S Ierom and other Christian Doctors vnderstand it of Christ vvho hath most perfect iudgement and iustice and of his Apostles and other Pastors of his Church vvho by vnction of the Holie Ghost participate more abundantly of Christs grace then did the priestes other rulers in the old testament And so Christian people receiue these benefites of peace rest protection refreshing in soule conscience other spiritual comfortes in Christ by the mysteries of the nevv Testament vvhich the faithful of the old Testament could not receiue by their kinges
princes nor by priestes and prophets of that time The same vve might deduce of innumerable other places of this other Prophetes but it is not our * purpose to explicate much in this Edition 1. Reigne in iustice and rule in iudgement Here also to auoide prolixitie vve may once note that these vvordes Iudgement and Iustice haue a sa●●e other higher and more excellent signification in holie Scriptures vvhere they most frequently occurre then in prophane vvritings and natural or moral philosophical discourses For Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotel could reach no further then to natural reason vvhich they called right iudgement and to moral equitie vvhich in general they named iustice But the Holie Ghost by these vvordes reueleth most high spiritual mysteries knovven by faith most comfortable to mens soules releeuing and refreshing the consciences of penitents in this life replenishing the iust vvith vnspeakable gladnes in eternal glorie Therfore in the sense vsual in holy Scripture Iudgement is the act of the mind or vnderstanding discerning what is right iust agreing to reason And Iustice is the rectitude of the vvil doing conformably to right direction of the mind or vnderstanding And so these wordes are applied to signifie both Gods and iust mens actions As that vvhich God mercifully decreed in eternitie and promised after the fal of man to do for mankind as conuenient for his Diuine Povvre VVisdom Iustice Mercie Goodnes vvith al the meanes vvhich he ordained for effecting the same is called his Iudgement and the performing and accomplishment therof so sa●re as is of his part is called his Iustice Also that vvhich anie man discusseth discerneth and determineth in his vnderstanding as right or reasonable in supernatural thinges is called his spiritual iudgement and that vvhich he doth of his freevvil according to the same right iudgement is called his iustice So in this place the Prophet forshevveth that Christ our Kingvvil reigne in iust●●● that is performe and fulfil al that he as God vvith the Father the Holie Ghost decreed for Redemption Iustification and Sal●ation of men And the princes his Apostles and other Pastors shal rule in iudgement that is discerne and iudge vvhat is right and good for themselues and the people in respect of their soules and eternal saluation CHAP. XXXIII Sennacherib beseeging and threatning Ierusalem shal be ouerthrowne by Angels 13. that both wicked arrogant infidels may feele the hand of God and faithful sinners repenting after great terror be comforted VVOE to thee that spoilest shalt not thy selfe also be spoiled and that despisest shalt not thy self also be despised when thou shalt haue ended spoyling thou shalt be spoyled when being wearied thou shalt cease to contemne thou shalt be contemned † O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for we haue expected thee be our arme in the morning and our saluation in the time of our tribulation † At the voice of the Angel the peoples fled and at thy exaltation the nations are dispersed † And you spoiles shal be gathered together as the locust is gathered as when the ditches shal be ful therof † Our Lord is magnified because he hath dwelt on high he hath filled Sion with iudgement and iustice † And there shal be fayth in thy times riches of saluation wisdom and knowlege the feare of our Lord that is his treasure † Behold they that see shal crie without the angels of peace shal weepe bitterly † The wayes are dissipated the passenger by the path hath ceased the couenant is made frustrate he hath reiected the cities he hath not estemed the men † The land hath moorned and languished Libanus is confounded and become foule and Saron is made as a desert and Basan is shaken Carmel † Now wil I rise vp sayth our Lord now wil I be exalted now wil I be lifted vp † You shal conceiue heate you shal bring forth stubble your spirit as fire shal deuoure you † And the peoples shal be as ashes of a great fyre thornes gathered together shal be burned with fyre † Heare ye that are far of what thinges I haue done and ye that are neere know my strength † The sinners are terrified in Sion trembling hath possessed the hypocrites Which of you can dwel with deuouring fyre which of you shal dwel with euerlasting heates † He that walketh in iustices and speaketh truth that casteth away auarice of oppression and shaketh his handes from al gift that stoppeth his eares lest he heare bloud and shutteth his eyes that he may see no euil † This man shal dwel on high the munitions of rockes shal be his highnes bread is geuen to him his waters are faithful † His eies shal see the king in his beautie they shal see the land farre of † Thy hart shal meditate feare where is the lerned where is he that pondereth the wordes of the law where the teacher of litle ones † The vnwise people thou shalt not see the people of profound speach so that thou canst not vnderstand the eloquence of his tongue in whom there is no wisdome † Looke vpon Sion the citie of our solemnitie thine eies shal see Ierusalem a rich habitation a tabernacle that can not be transferred neither shal the nailes therof be taken away for euer and al the cordes therof shal not be broken † because onlie there our Lord is magnifical a place of floudes riuers most brode and wide no shippe of rowers shal passe by it neither shal the great galley passe thereby † For the Lord is our iudge the Lord is our lawmaker the Lord is our king he wil saue vs † Thy cordes are loosed and they shal not preuaile thy mast shal be so that thou canst not spred the signe Then shal the spoiles of manie prayes be diuided the lame shal take the spoile † Neither shal the neighbour say I am feble The people that dwelleth therein iniquitie shal be taken away from them CHAP. XXXIIII A prophecie of the destruction of the whole world at the day of Iudgement 5. and in particular of I dume● 9. Ierusalem as figures therof COME neere ye Gentiles and heare and ye peoples attend let the earth heare the fulnes therof the round world and euerie spring therof † Because the indignation of our Lord is vpon al Gentiles and furie vpon al their hostes he hath killed them geuen them into slaughter † Their slaine shal be cast forth and out of their carcas●es shal rise a stinche the mountaines shal melt with their bloud † And al the host of the heauens shal melt away and the heauens shal be folded together as a booke and al their host shal fal away as the leafe falleth from the vine and from the figge tree † Because my sword is inebriated in heauen behold it shal descend vpon Idumaea and vpon the peoples of my slaughter to iudgement † The sword of
our Lord is filled with bloud it is fatted of the bloud of lambes and buckgoates of the bloud of rammes ful of marow for the victime of our Lord is in Bosra agrear slaughter in the land of Edom. † And the vnicornes shal come downe with them and the bulles with the mightie their land shal be drunke with bloud their ground with the farnes of fatte ones † Because it is the day of the reuenge of our Lord the yeare of retributions of the iudgement of Sion † And the torrents therof shal be turned into pitch and the ground therof into brimstone the land therof shal be into burning pitch † Night and day it shal not be quenched the smoke therof shal goe vp for euer from generation vnto generation it shal be desolate there shal none passe by it world without end † The onocrotalus and hedgehog shal possesse it the ibis and the rauen shal dwel in it and a measure shal be stretched out vpon it to bring it to nothing and a plumme line vnto desolation † The nobles therof shal not be there they shal cal rather vpon the king and al the princes therof shal be as nothing † And thornes and nettles shal grow vp in the houses therof and the thisle in the munitions therof and it shal be the couche of dragons and the pasture of ostriches † And spirites shal meete the onocentaurus and the satyr shal crie one to the other there hath the lamia lien and found her self rest † There hath the hedgehog had an hole and brought vp whelpes and digged round about and cherished them in the shadow therof thither are the kites gathered together one to an other † Searche ye diligently in the booke of our Lord and read one of them hath not wanted one hath not sought for the other because that which procedeth out of my mouth he hath commanded and his spirit the same hath gathered them † And he hath cast them a lot and his hand hath diuided it vnto them by measure they shal possesse it for euer in generation generation they shal dwel therein CHAP. XXXV Gentiles conuerted to Christ shal much reioyce 5. being comforted and confirmed by his miracles much more by his internal grace which bringeth to life euerlasting THE desert and the land without passage shal be glad the wildernes shal reioyce and shal florish as the lilie † Springing it shal spring shal reioyce ioyful and praising the glorie of Libanus is geuen to it the beautie of Carmel and Saron they shal see the glorie of our Lord and the beautie of our God † Encourege ye the loose handes strengthen the weake knees † Say to the faynt harted Take courege and feare not behold your God shal bring reuenge of retribution God him self wil come and wil saue you † Then shal the eies of the blind be opened and the eares of the deafe shal be open † Then shal the lame leape as an hart and the tongue of the dumme shal be opened because waters are cut out in the desert and torrents in the wildernes † And that which was drieland shal be as a poole and the thirstie ground as fountaines of waters In the dennes wherein dragons dwelt before shal spring vp the greennes of reede and bulrush † And a pathe and a way shal be there and it shal be called the holie way the polluted shal not passe by it and this shal be vnto you a direct way so that fooles can not erre by it † The lion shal not be there and the naughtie beast shal not goe vp by it nor be found there and they shal walke that shal be deliuered † And the redemed of our Lord shal be conuerted and shal come into Sion with prayse and euerlasting ioy shal be vpon their head they shal obteyne ioy and gladnes and sorow and mourning shal flee away CHAP. XXXVI Sennacherib king of Assirians hauing taken other cities in Iurie besiegeth and threatneth Ierusalem 4. reprocheth king Ezechias 7. blasphemeth God 13. and terrifieth the people AND it came to passe in the fourtenth yeare of king Ezechias Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came vp agaynst al the fensed cities of Iuda and tooke them † And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces from Lachis to Ierusalem to king Ezechias with a great armie and he stood by the water conduite of the vpper poole in the way of the fullers filde † And there came out to him Eliacim the sonne of Helcias who was ouer the house and Sobna the scribe and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph the commenter † And Rabsaces sayd to them Tel Ezechias Thus sayth the great king the king of the Assyrians What is this confidence wherevpon thou dost trust † or by what counsel or force art thou disposed to rebel vpon whom hast thou confidence that thou art reuolted from me † Loe thou dost trust vpon this broken staffe of reede vpon Aegypt vpon which if a man leane it wil enter into his hand and pearce it so is Pharao the king of Aegypt to al that trust in him † But if thou wilt answer me We trust in our Lord God is it not he whose excelses and altars Ezechias hath taken away and he sayd to Iuda and Ierusalem Before this altar shal you adore † And now deliuer thyself to my lord the king of the Assyrians I wil geue thee two thousand horses neither shalt thou be able of thyself to geue riders for them † And how wilt thou abide the face of the iudge of one place of the lesser seruants of my Lord But if thou trust in Aegypt in chariotes and in horsemen † and now am I come vp without the Lord vnto this land to destroy it The Lord sayd to me Goe vp agaynst this land destroy it † And Eliacïm and Sobna and Ioahe sayd to Rabsaces Speake to thy seruants in the Syrian tongue for we vnderstand it speake not to vs in the Iewes language in the eares of the people that is vpon the wal † And Rabsaces sayd to them Why did my lord send me to thy lord and to thee to speake al these wordes and not rather to the men that sitte on the wal that they may eate their owne dung and drinke the vrine of their feete with you † And Rabsaces stood cried with a loude voice in the Iewes language and sayd Heare ye the wordes of the great king the king of Assyrians † Thus sayth the king Let not Ezechias seduce you for he shal not be able to deliuer you † And let not Ezechias geue you confidence vpon the Lord saying Our Lord deliuering wil deliuer vs this citie shal not be geuen into the hand of the king of Assyrians † Heare not Ezechias for thus sayth the king of Assyrians doe a blessing with me and come forth to me and eate ye euerie man
of his owne wineyard and euerie man of his owne figtree and drinke ye euerie man the water of his owne cesterne † til I come and take you away to a land that is as your owne a land of corne and of wine a land of bread and vineyards † Neither let Ezechias truble you saying Our Lord wil deliuer vs. Why haue the goddes of the nations deliuered euerie one their land out of the hand of the king of Assyrians † Where is the god of Emath and Arphad where is the god of Sepharuaim haue they deliuered Samaria out of my hand † Who is there of al the goddes of these landes which hath deliuered their land out of my hand that the Lord can deliuer Ierusalem out of any hand † And they held their peace and answered him not a word For the king had commanded saying Answer him not † And Eliacim the sonne of Helcias that was ouer the house and Sobna the scribe and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph the commenter went in to Ezechias their garments rent and told him the wordes of Rabsaces CHAP. XXXVII King Ezechias requesteth the prayers of Isaie the prophet 6. who assureth the king of Gods helpe 8. In the meane time the enimies threatening and blaspheming 14. King Ezechias prayeth 21. God promiseth to protect Ierusalem 36 and by an Angel killeth in one night an hundred eigtiefiue thousand Assirians 37. Their king returneth to Ni●●ue and is slaine by his owne sonnes AND it came to passe when king Ezechias had heard it he rent his garments and was wrapped in sackcloth entred into the house of our Lord. † And he sent Eliacim which was ouer the house and Sobna the scribe and the ancients of the priestes couered with sackclothes to Isaie the sonne of Amos the prophete † and they sayd to him Thus sayth Ezechias This day is a day of tribulation and of rebuke and of blasphemie because the children are come euen to the birth and there is not strength to bring forth † If by any meanes our Lord thy God wil heare the wordes of Rabsaces whom the king of Assyrians his Lord hath sent to blaspheme the liuing God to vpbraide with words which our Lord thy God hath heard lift vp prayer therfore for the remnant that are left † And the seruāts of Ezechias came to Isaie † And Isaie sayd to them Thus shal you say to your master Thus saith our Lord Feare not at the face of the wordes which thou hast heard where with the seruants of the king of the Assyrians haue blasphemed me † Behold I wil geue him a spirit and he shal heare a message and shal returne to his countrie and I wil make him fal by the sword in his owne countrie † And Rabsaces returned and found the king of Assyrians fighting agaynst Lobna For he heard that he was departed from Lachis † and he heard of Tharaca the king of Aethiopia them that sayd He is come forth to fight agaynst thee Which when he had heard he sent messengers to Ezechias saying † Thus shal you say to Ezechaias the king of Iuda speaking Let not thy God deceiue thee in whom thou hast confidence saying Ierusalen shal not be geuen into the hand of the king of the Assyrians † Loe thou hast heard al thinges the kinges of the Assyrians haue done to al countries which they haue subuerted and canst thou be deliuered † Why haue the goddes of the nations deliuered them whom my fathers haue subuerted Gozam and Haram and Reseph and the children of Eden that were in Thalassar † Where is the king of Emath and the king of Arphad and the king of the citie of Sepharuaim of Ana Aua † And Ezechias tooke the letters of the hand of the messengers and read them and went vp into the house of our Lord and Ezchias layd them open before our Lord † And Ezchias prayed to our Lord saying † O Lord of hostes God of Israel which sittest vpon the Cherubs thou art the onlie God of al the kingdomes of the earth thou hast made heauen and earth † Incline ô Lord thine eare and heare open ô Lord thine eies and see and heare al the wordes of Sennacherib which he hath sent to blaspheme the liuing God † For in verie deede ô Lord the kinges of the Assyrians haue made landes desolate and the countries of the same † And they haue geuen their goddes to fyre for they were not goddes but the workes of mens handes wood stone they brake them in peeces † And now ô Lord our God saue vs out of his hand and let al the kingdomes of the earth knowe that thou onlie art the Lord. † And Isaie the sonne of Amos sent to Ezechias saying Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel For the thinges that thou praied me concerning Sennacherib the king of Assyrians † this is the word which our Lord hath spoken vpon him The virgin daughter of Sion hath despised thee and scorned thee the daughter of Ierusalem hath wagged the head after thee † Whom hast thou vpbrayded and whom hast thou blasphemed and vpon whom hast thou exalted voice and lifted vp the height of thine eies To the holie one of Israel † By the hand of thy seruants thou hast vpbrayded our Lord and hast sayd In the multitude of my chariotes haue I climed the height of mountaynes the toppes of Libanus and I wil cut downe the high cedres therof the chosen firre trees therof and wil enter to the toppe of the height therof to the forest of his Carmel † I haue digged and drunken the water and haue dried vp with the steppe of my foote al the riuers of the rampiers † Why hast thou not heard what I haue done to him of old from ancient daies haue I formed it and now I haue brought it to effect and it is made to the rooting out of litle hilles bickering together and of sensed cities † The inhabitants of them with shortened hand haue trembled and are confounded they are become as hay of the field and grasse of the pasture ground and herbe of the house toppes which hath withered before it was ripe † I haue knowen thy habitation and thy going out and thy coming in and thy madnes agaynst me † When thou didstrage agaynst me thy pride ascended into mine eares therfore I wil put a ring in thy nosthrels and a bitte in thy lippes wil bring thee backe into the way by which thou camest † But to th●e this shal be a signe eate this yeare the thinges that grow of themselues and in the second yeare eate fruites but in the third yeare sow and reape plant vineyards and eate the fruite of them † And that which shal be saued of the house of Iuda and which is leaft shal take roote downeward and shal beare fruite vpward † because out of Ierusalem there shal a remnant goe forth and saluation from mount
of health 2. He sheweth them al his riches 5. for which I saie reprehendeth him and prophecieth that the Babylonians wil spoile Ierusalem AT THAT time Merodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that he had bene sicke and was recouered † And Ezechias reioyced vpon them and he shewed them the storehouse of aromatical spices and of siluer and of gold and of sweete odours and of the best oyntment and al the store houses of his furniture and al thinges that were found in his treasures There was not anie thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his dominion † But Isaie the prophet went in to Ezechias the king and said to him What sayd these men and from whence came they to thee And Ezechias sayd From a far countrie they came to me from Babylon † And he sayd What saw they in thy house And Ezechias sayd al thinges that are in my house haue they sene there was not anie thing which I haue not shewed them in my treasures † And Isaie sayd to Ezechias Heare the word of the Lord of hostes † Behold the daies shal come and al thinges that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp for treasure vntil this day shal be taken away into Babylon there shal not any thing be leaft sayth our Lord. † And of thy children which shal come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget they shal take away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon † And Ezechias sayd to Isaie The word of our Lord which he hath spoken is good And he said Onlie be there peace and truth in my daies CHAP. XL. The prophet comforteth the people with Christs coming to remitte sinnes 3. Before whom S. Iohn Baptist shal preach penance 6. sheweth mans imbecilitie 9. Gods Maiestie 18. the vanitie of idols 27. and fal of them that feare not God BE comforted be comforted my people saith your God † Speake to the hart of Ierusalem and cal to her because her malice is accomplished her iniquitie is forgeuen she hath receiued of the hand of our Lord duble for al her sinnes † The voice of one crying in the desert Prepare the way of our Lord make streight the pathes of our God in the wildernes † Euerie valley shal be exalted and euerie mountaine and litle hil shal be humbled crooked thinges shal become streight and rought wayes playne † And the glorie of our Lord shal be reueled and al flesh together shal see that the mouth of our Lord hath spoken † The voice of one saying Crie And I sayd What shal I crie Al flesh is grasse and al the glorie therof as the floure of the filde † The grasse is withered and the floure is fallen because the spirit of our Lord hath blowen on it In deede the people is grasse † the grasse is withered and the floure is fallen but the word of our Lord abideth for euer † Vpon an high mountayne get thee vp thou that euangelizest to Sion exalt the voice in strength which euangelizest to Ierusalem exalt it feare not Say to the cities of Iuda Behold your God † behold our Lord God shal come in strength and his arme shal haue dominion behold his reward is with him and his worke before him † As a shepheard shal he feede his flocke in his arme shal he gather together the lambes and in his bosome shal he lift them vp and them with yong himself shal carie † Who hath measured the waters with his fist and poundered the heauens with a spanne who hath poysed with three fingers the huge greatnes of the earth and wayed the mountaines in weight and the litle hilles in balance † Who hath holpen the spirit of our Lord or who hath bene his counseler and shewed to him † With whom hath he taken counsel and who hath instructed him and taught him the path of iustice and taught him knowlege and shewed him the way of prudence † Behold the Gentiles are as a droppe of a bucket and are reputed as the moment of a balance behold the ilandes are as a litle dust † And Libanus shal not suffice to kindle the fyre and the beastes therof shal not be sufficient for holocaust † Al nations as if they were not so are they before him and they are reputed of him as nothing and a vaine thing † To whom then haue you made God like or what image wil you set to him † Hath the artificer cast a sculptil or hath the goldsmith figured it with gold or the siluersmith with plates of siluer † Strong wood and that which wil not putrifie hath he chosen the wise artificer seeketh how he may set vp a sculptile which may not be moued † Why doe you not know why haue you not heard why hath it not bene told you from the beginning Haue you not vnderstood the fundations of the earth † He that sitteth vpon the compasse of the earth and the inhabitants therof are as locustes he that stretcheth out the heauens as nothing spreddeth them as a tent to dwel in † He that maketh the searchers of secretes as if they were not that hath made the iudges of the earth as a vayne thing † and in deede their stocke was neither planted nor sowen nor rooted in the earth sodenly he hath blowen vpon them and they haue withered and a whirle wind shal take them away as stubble † And to whom haue ye likened me and made me equal saith the holie one † Lift vp your eies on high and see who hath created these thinges he that bringeth out the host of them in number and calleth them al by name by the multitude of his force and strength and power not one of them was missing † Why sayest thou Iacob and speakest thou Israel My way is hid from our Lord and my iudgement is passed ouer of my God † Why knowest thou not or hast thou not heard our Lord is God euerlasting which hath created the endes of the earth he shal not faile nor labour neither is there searching out of his wisdome † Which geueth strength to the wearie and to them that are not multiplieth force and strength † Children shal faynte and labour and yongmen shal fal by infirmitie † But they that hope in our Lord shal change their strength they shal take winges as eagles they shal runne not labour they shal walke and not fainte CHAP. XLI God pleading against idolaters sheweth his powre and goodnes by his benefites bestowed vpon the Iewes 17. With promise of perpetual protection 21. Wheras their vaine idols can no way profite them LET the ilands hold their peace before me and the Gentiles change their strength let them come neere and then speake let vs
thinges of old I haue declared and they proceded out of my mouth and I haue made them to be heard sodenly I haue wrought and they came † For I knew that thou art stubburne and thy necke is an yron sinew and thy forehead of brasse † I foretold thee of old before they came I told thee lest perhaps thou shouldest say My idols haue done these thinges and my sculptils and moltens haue commanded these thinges † See al the thinges which thou hast heard but haue you declared them I haue made thee know new thinges of old and the thinges are kept which thou knowest not † now they are created and not of old and before the day and thou heardest them not lest perhaps thou mighrest say Behold I knewe them † Thou hast neither heard nor knowen neither was thyne eare opened of old For I know that transgressing thou wilt transgresse and I haue called thee a transgressour from the wombe † For my names sake I wil make my furie far of and for my prayse I wil bridle thee that thou perish not † Behold I haue fined thee but not as siluer I haue chosen thee in the fornace of pouertie † For myself for my self wil I do it that I be not blasphemed and I wil not geue my glorie to an other † Heare me ô Iacob and thou Israel whom I cal I the same I the first I the last † My hand also hath founded the earth and my right hand hath measured the heauens I shal cal them and they shal stand together † Assemble ye together al you and heare which of them hath shewed these thinges The Lord hath loued him he wil do his wil in Babylon and his arme in the Chaldees † I euen I haue spoken and called him I haue brought him and his way is directed † Come ye to me and heare this I haue not spoken in secrete from the begynning from the time before it was done I was there and now the Lord God hath sent me and his spirite † Thus sayth our Lord thy redemer the holie one of Israel I the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable thinges that gouerne thee in the way that thou walkest † I would thou hadst attended to my commandments thy peace had bene as a floud and thy iustice as the waues of the sea † And thy seede had bene as the sand and the stocke of thy wombe as the grauel stones therof his name had not perished neither had it bene destroyed from before my face † Come forth out of Babylon flee from the Chaldees shew it forth in the voice of exultation make this to be heard and speake it out euen to the endes of the earth Say Our Lord hath redemed his seruant Iacob † They thirsted not in the desert when he brought them forth water out of the rocke he brought forth to them and he cloue the rocke and there flowed waters † There is no peace to the impious sayth our Lord. CHAP. XLIX Christ shal lead the Gentiles to saluation euen of the ilandes and vttermost partes of the world 10. By him the faithful shal receiue much grace 14. and comforth 18. The Church stil increasing 21. admiring herowne felicitie 25. and the destruction of her enimies HEARE ye ilands and attend ye peoples from a farre The Lord hath called me from the wombe from my mothers bellie he hath bene mindful of my name † And he hath made my mouth as a sharpe sword in the shadow of his hand he hath protected me hath made me as a chosen arrow in his quiuer he hath hidden me † And he sayd to me Thou art my seruant Israel because in thee wil I glorie † And I sayd I haue laboured in vayne without cause and in vayne haue I spent my strength therfore my iudgement is with the Lord and my worke with my God † And now sayth the Lord that formed me from the wombe to be his seruant that I may reduce Iacob vnto him and Israel wil not be gathered together and I am glorified in the eies of the Lord and my God is made my strength † And he sayd It is a smal thing that thou shouldest be my seruant to rayse vp the tribes of Iacob and to conuert the dregges of Israel Behold I haue geuen thee to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayst be saluation euen to the fardest part of the earth † Thus sayth our Lord the redemer of Israel the holie one therof to the contemptible soule to the nation that is abhorred to the seruant of lordes kinges shal see princes shal rise adore for our Lords sake because he is faythful for the holie one of Israel who hath chosen thee † Thus sayth our Lord In time acceptable I haue heard thee and in the day of saluation I haue holpen thee and I haue kept thee and geuen thee to be a couenant of the people that thou mightest rayse vp the land and possesse the inheritances dissipated † that thou mightest say to them that are bound Come forth to them that are in darknesse Be ye discouered Vpon the wayes shal they feede their pastures shal be in al plaines † They shal not hunger nor thirst heate and sunne shal not strike them because he that is merciful to them shal gouerne them and al the fountaines of waters shal geue them drinke † And I wil make al my mountaines to be a way my pathes shal be exalted † Behold these shal come from farre behold they from the North and the sea and these from the South countrie † Ye heauens prayse and earth reioyce ye mountaynes geue prayse with iubilation because our Lord hath comforted his people and wil haue mercie on his poore ones † And Sion sayd Our Lord hath forsaken me our Lord hath forgotten me † Why can a woman forget her infant that she wil not haue pitie on the sonne of her wombe And if she should forget yet wil not I forget thee † Behold I haue writen thee in my handes thy walles are before myne eies alwayes † Thy builders are come they that destroy thee and dissipate thee shal goe out of thee † Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee I liue saith our Lord for thou shalt be clothed with al these as with an ornament and as a bride thou shalt put them about thee † Because thy deserts and thy solitarie places and the land of thy ruine shal now be straite by reason of the inhabitants and they shal be chased far away that swalowed thee vp † As yet shal the children of thy barrennesse say in thine eares The place is straite for me make me space to dwel † And thou shalt say in thy hart Who hath begot me these I am barren not bearing ledde into transmigration and captiue
and these who hath brought vp I destitute and alone these where were they † Thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil lift vp my hand to the Gentiles to the peoples I wil exalt my signe And shal carie thy sonnes in their armes and thy daughters vpon their shoulders † And kinges shal be thy nourcing fathers queenes thy nources with countenance cast downe toward the ground they shal adore thee they shal licke vp the dust of thy feete And thou shalt know that I am the Lord vpon whom they shal not be confounded that expect him † Shal a praye be taken from the strong or can that which was caught of the mightie be saued † Because thus sayth our Lord Yea verely euen the captiuitie shal be taken away from the strong and that which was taken by the mightie shal be saued But those that haue iudged thee wil I iudge and thy children I wil saue † And I wil feede thine enemies with their owne flesh and as with new wine so shal they be embrewed with their owne bloud and al flesh shal know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the mightie one of Iacob CHAP. L. The Sinagogue shal be diuorced for her iniquities 4. Christ wil omite no ordinarie meanes but for her sake wil indure ignominious afflictions 10. Al which she contemning shal perish THVS sayth our Lord What is this bill of the diuorce of our mother wherwith I haue dismissed her or who is my creditour to whom I sold you Loe you are solde for your wicked deedes I haue dismist your mother † Because I came and there was not a man I called and there was none that would heare Why is myne hand abridged and made a litle one that I can not redeme or is there no strength in me to deliuer Behold in my rebuke I wil make the sea desert I wil turne the floodes into drie land the fishes shal rot without water and shal dye for thirst † I wil clothe the heauens with darknes and wil make sackcloth their couering † The Lord hath geuen me a learned tongue that I may know to stay him vp that is wearie with a word he stirreth vp in the morning in the morning he stirreth vp mine eare that I may heare him as a master † The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I doe not gaynsay I am not gone backward † I haue geuen my bodie to the strikers my cheekes to the pluckers I haue not turned away my face from the rebukers spitters † The Lord God is mine helper therfore am I not confounded therfore haue I set my face as a most hard rocke and I know that I shal not be confounded † He is neere that iustifieth me who shal gaynesay me let vs stand together who is myne aduersarie let him come to me † Behold the Lord God my helper who is he that shal condemne me Loe they shal al be destroyed as a garment the mothe shal eate them † Which of you feareth our Lord heareth the voice of his seruant who hath walked in darkenes and hath no light let him hope in the name of our Lord and leane vpon his God † Loe al you doe kindle a fyre are compassed with flames walke in the light of your fyre and in the flames which you haue kindled of my hand is this done to you you shal sleepe in sorrowes CHAP. LI. God encoregeth Sion to trust in his promised comfort● by example of Abraham 3. For the spiritual Sion the Church of Christ shal receiue much grace by his Euangelical law 12. and her children shal not feare persecution nor be ouercome 23. but her enemies shal faile HEARE me ye that folow that which is iust and that seeke our Lord attend to the rocke whence you are hewen out to the caue of the lake from the which you are cut out † Attend to Abraham your father and to Sara that bare you because I called him alone and blessed him multiplied him † Our Lord therfore wil comfort Sion and wil comfort al the ruines therof and he wil make her desert as delicacies and her wildernes as the garden of our Lord. Ioy and gladnes shal be found in it geuing of thankes and voice of prayse † Attend vnto me ô my people and my tribe heare ye me because a law shal proceede from me and my iudgement shal rest to be a light of the peoples † My iust one is nigh at hand my sauiour is gone forth and mine armes shal iudge peoples the ilands shal expect me and shal patiently wayte for mine arme † Lift vp your eies into heauen and looke downe to the earth beneath because the heauens shal melt as smoke and the earth shal be worne away as a garment and like to these thinges shal the inhabitants therof perish but my saluation shal be for euer and my iustice shal not faile † Heare me ye that know that which is iust my people which haue my law in their hart feare ye not the reproch of men and be not afrayd of their blasphemies † For as a garment so shal the worme eate them and as wool so shal the moth deuoure them but my saluation shal be for euer and my iustice vnto generations of generations † Arise arise put on strength ô arme of our Lord arise as in the old dayes in the generations of worldes Hast not thou striken the proude wounded the dragon † Hast not thou dried the sea the water of the vehement which madest the depth of the sea a way that the deliuered might passe † And now they that are redemed of our Lord shal returne and shal come into Sion praysing and ioy euerlasting vpon their heades they shal possesse ioy and gladnes sorrow and mourning shal flee away † I euen I my self wil comfort you who art thou that thou shouldest be afrayd of a mortal man and of the sonne of man which as grasse so shal wither † And thou hast forgotten our Lord thy maker which stretched out the heauens and founded the earth and thou hast bene afrayd continually al the day at the face of his furie which afflicted thee and had prepared to destroy where is now the furie of the affliction † He shal quickly come going to open and he shal not kil vnto vtter destruction neither shal his bread faile † But I am the Lord thy God which truble the sea and the waues therof doe swel the Lord of hostes is my name † I haue put my wordes in thy mouth and in the shadow of my hand I haue protected thee that thou mightest plant the heauens and found the earth mightest say to Sion Thou art my people † Be lifted vp be lifted vp arise Ierusalem which hast drunken of the hand of our Lord the cuppe of his wrath euen to the botome of the cuppe of drousines hast thou
drunke euen to the dregges † There is none that can vphold her of al the children that she hath borne and there is none that taketh her by the hand of al the children that she hath brought vp † There are two thinges which haue happened to thee who shal be sorie for thee Spoile and destruction and famine and the sword who shal comfort thee † Thy children are throwen forth they haue slept in the head of alwayes as the orix that is snared ful of the indignation of our Lord of the rebuke of thy God † Therefore heare this poore little one and drunken not of wine † Thus sayth thy dominatour our Lord and thy God who hath fought for his people Behold I haue taken out of thy hand the cuppe of drousines the botome of the cuppe of mine indignation thou shalt not adde to drinke it any more † And I wil put it in their hand that haue humbled thee and haue sayd to thy soule Bow downe that we may passe ouer and thou hast layd thy bodie as the ground and as a way to them that passe ouer CHAP. LII The prophet alluding to the deliuerie of Sion and Ierusalem from Babylonical captiuitie sturreth vp the Church of Christ to reioyce for the deliuerie from sinne 7. which Christs Apostles preached 10. with great fruite in al nations ARISE arise put on thy strength ô Sion put on the garments of thy glorie ô Ierusalem the citie of the holie one because the vncircumcised and vncleane shal adde no more to passe by thee † Be shaken out of the dust arise sit vp Ierusalem loose the bonds of thy necke ô captiue daughter of Sion † Because thus sayth our Lord You were sold for nought and without siluer you shal be redemed † Because thus sayth our Lord God My people went downe into Aegypt at the beginning to be a seiourner there and Assur without any cause did oppresse them † And now what haue I here sayth our Lord because my people is taken away for nought Their rulers doe vniustly sayth our Lord and continually al the day my name is blasphemed † For this cause shal my people know my name in that day because I myself that spake loe am present † How beautiful vpon the mountaines are the feete of him that euangelizeth preacheth peace of him that telleth good preaching health that sayeth to Sion Thy God shal reigne † The voice of thy watchemen they haue lifted vp their voice they shal prayse together because eie to eie they shal see when our Lord shal conuert Sion † Reioyce prayse together ye deserts of Ierusalem because our Lord hath comforted his people he hath redemed Ierusalem † Our Lord hath prepared his holie arme in the sight of al the Gentiles and al the endes of the earth shal see the saluation of our God † Depart depart goe ye out from thence touch not a polluted thing goe out of the middes of her be cleansed ye that carie the vesseles of our Lord. † Because you shal not goe out in tumult neither with flight shal you make hast for our Lord wil goe before you and the God of Israel wil gather you together † Behold my seruant shal vnderstand he shal be exalted and shal be lifted vp and shal be exceding high † As manie haue bene astoined vpon thee so shal his looke among men be inglorious and his forme among the sonnes of men † He shal sprinkle manie nations kinges shal shut their mouthe vpon him because they to whom it was not told of him haue sene and they that heard not haue beheld CHAP. LIII Al wil not beleue Christs Gospel to whom it shal be preached 2. as the mysterie of his ignominious death for al mens sinnes 7. which he wil suffer most mekely 10. for which his name shal be glorified in al places VVHO hath beleued our hearing and the arme of our Lord to whom is it reueled † And he shal come vp as a yong spring before him and as a roote from a thirstie ground there is no beautie in him nor comelinesse and we haue sene him and there was no sightlines and we were desirous of him † Despised and most abiect of men a man of sorowes and knowing infirmitie and his looke as it were hid and despised whereupon neither haue we estemed him † He surely hath borne our infirmities and our sorowes he hath caried and we haue thought him as it were a leper and striken of God and humbled † But he was wounded for our iniquities he was broken for our sinnes the discipline of our peace vpon him and with the waile of his stripe we are healed † Al we haue strayed as sheepe euerie one hath declined into his owne way and our Lord hath put vpon him the iniquitie of al vs. † He was offered because him self would and opened not his mouth as a sheepe to slaughter shal he be led and as a lambe before his shearer he shal be dumme and shal not open his mouth † from distresse and from iudgement he was taken vp who shal declare his generation because he is cut out of the land of the liuing for the wickednes of my people haue I striken him † And he shal geue the impious for his burial and the riche for his death because he hath not done iniquitie neither was there guile in his mouth † And our Lord would breake him in infirmitie if he shal put away his soule for sinne he shal see seede of long age and the wil of our Lord shal be directed in his hand † For that his soule hath laboured he shal see and be filled in his knowlege the same my iust seruant shal iustifie manie and he shal beare their iniquities † Therefore wil I distribute vnto him verie manie and he shal diuide the spoiles of the strong for that he hath deliuered his soule vnto death and was reputed with the wicked and he hath borne the sinnes of manie and hath prayed for the transgressours CHAP. LIIII Gentiles who were barren shal multiplie in the Church of Christ 10. from which Gods mercie shal neuer be separated PRAISE ô barren woman which bearest not sing prayse and make ioyful noyse which didst not beare because manie are the children of the desolate more then of her that hath a husband saith our Lord. † Enlarge the place of thy tent and stretch out the skinnes of thy tabernacles spare not make long thy coardes and fasten thy nailes † For thou shalt penetrate to the right hand and to the left and thy seede shal inherite the Gentiles and shal inhabite the desolate cities † Feare not because thou shalt not be confounded nor blush for thou shalt not be ashamed because thou shalt forget the confusion of thy youth and the reproch of thy widowhood thou shalt remenber no more † Because he shal rule ouer thee that made thee the
Lord of hostes is his name thy redemer the holie one of Israel shal be called the God of al the earth † For as a woman forsaken mourning in spirit hath our Lord called thee and as a wife cast of from her youth hath thy God sayd † For a moment a litle while haue I forsaken thee in great mercies wil I gather thee † In a moment of indignation haue I hid my face a litle while from thee and in mercie euerlasting haue I had mercie on thee sayd thy redeemer our Lord. † As in the daies of Noe is this thing to me to whom I sware that I would no more bring in the waters of Noe vpon the earth so haue I sworne not to be angrie with thee and not to rebuke thee † For the mountaines shal be moued and the little hilles shal tremble but my mercie shal not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shal not be moued sayd our Lord thy miseratour † Poore litle one shaken with tempest without al comfort behold I wil lay thy stones in order and wil found thee in sapphires † and I wil put the iasper stone for thy munitions and thy gates into grauen stones and al thy borders into stones worthie to be desired † Al thy children taught of our Lord a multitude of peace to thy children † And in iustice thou shalt be founded depart far from calumnie because thou shalt not feare and from dread because it shal not approch to thee † Behold the borderer shal come which was not with me thy stranger sometime shal be ioyned to thee † Behold I haue created the smith that bloweth the coles in the fire and bringeth forth a vessel for his worke I created the killer to destroy † Euerie vessel that is made agaynst thee shal not prosper and euerie tongue resisting thee in iudgement thou shalt iudge † This is the inheritance of the seruants of our Lord and their iustice with me sayth our Lord. CHAP. LV. God promiseth abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful 4. that shal beleue in Christ of al nations 7. and sincerely serue him ALYE that thirst come to the waters and you that haue no siluer make hast bye eate come bye without siluer and without any exchange wine and milke † Why bestow you siluer not for bread your labour not for saciety Hearing heare ye me and eate that which is ●●d and your soule shal be delighted in fatnes † Incline your eare come to me heare and your soule shal liue and I wil make an euerlasting couenant with you the faythful mercies of Dauid † Behold I haue geuen him for a witnes to the peoples for a prince and master to the Gentiles † Behold thou shalt cal the nation which thou knowest not and the nations that knew not thee shal runne to thee because of the Lord thy God and the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee † Seeke ye our Lord whiles he may be found inuocate him whiles he is neere † Let the impious forsake his way and the vniust man his cogitations and returne to our Lord and he wil haue mercie on him and to our God because he is bountiful to forgeue † For my cogitations are not your cogitations nor your wayes my wayes sayth our Lord. † For as the heauens are exalted aboue the earth so are my wayes exalted aboue your wayes and my cogitations aboue your cogitations † And as the showre cometh downe and the snow from heauen and returneth no more thither but inebriateth the earth and watereth it and maketh it to spring and geueth seede to the sower and bread to him that eateth † so shal my word be which shal proceede from my mouth it shal not returne to me voyde but it shal doe what thinges soeuer I would and shal prosper in these thinges for which I sent it † Because you shal goe forth in ioy and in peace shal you be conducted the mountaines and the litle hilles shal sing prayse before you and al the wood of the countrie shal clap the hand † For the shrubbe shal come vp the firre tree and for the nettle shal grow the myrtle tree and our Lord shal be named for an euerlasting signe that shal not be taken away CHAP. LVI God inuiteth al men in thought and dede to kepe his law 4. promiseth blessing and reward to those that professe and kepe perpetual chastitie 9. and reproueth euil pastors THYS sayth our Lord Keepe ye iudgement and doe iustice because my saluation is nere to come and my iustice to be reueled † Blessed is the man that doth this thing and the sonne of man that shal apprehend this keping the Sabbath that he pollute it not keping his handes that he doe no euil † And let not the sonne of the stranger that cleaueth to our Lord say By seperation the Lord wil diuide me from his people † And “ let not the eunuch say Behold I am a drie tree Because thus sayth our Lord to the eunuches They that shal kepe my Sabbathes and shal choose the thinges that I would and shal hold my couenant † I wil geue vnto them in my house and within my walles a place and a name better then sonnes and daughters an euerlasting name wil I geue them which shal not perish † And the children of the stranger that cleaue to the Lord to worshipe him to loue his name to be his seruants euerie one that kepeth the Sabbath not to pollute it and that holdeth my couenant † I wil bring them into my holie mount and wil make them ioyful in the house of my prayer their holocaustes and their victims shal please me vpon mine altar because my house shal be called the house of prayer to al peoples † Sayth our Lord God that gathereth the dispersed of Israel● As yet wil I gather vnto it the gathered together therof † Al ye beasts of the fielde come to deuoure al ye beastes of the forest † His watchmen al blind haue bene ignorant dume dogges not able to barke seing vaine thinges sleeping and louing dreames † And most inpudent dogges they haue knowne no sacie●ie the pastors themselues haue bene ignorant of vnderstanding al haue declined into their owne way euerie one to his owne auarice from the highest euen to the last † Come let vs take wine and be filled with drunkennes and it shal be as today so also to morow and much more ANNOTATIONS CHAP. LVI 4. ●●● not the Eunuch say I am a drie tree To be barren vvithout children vvas ignominious amongst the Iewes in the old testament because God hauing then chosen that only nation for his peculiar people the conseruation and increase of his Church depended much vpon their multiplication But seing the Church of Christ in the nevv testament should be gathered
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie † They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice † Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes † Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes † They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace † For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes † We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead † We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. † For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen † to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying † And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in † And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement † And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him † He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele † As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes † And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth † and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. † This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee † Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee † And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising † Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side † Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee † The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. † Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie † Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes † For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee † And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee † And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought † For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation † The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie † And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel † For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a ●oy vnto generation and generation † and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob † For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice † Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates † Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie † Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended † And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
of my planting the worke of mine hand to glorifie † The least shal be into a thousand and the litle one into a most strong nation I the Lord in the time therof wil sodenly doe it CHAP. LXI Christ announceth himself to be sent from heauen to teach the truth to heale and pardon the penitent to comforte the desolate and streingthen the weake 4. whose Apostles shal constantly preach iustice in al the world 10. And his Church shal reioyce THE spirit of the Lord vpon me because the Lord hath annoynted me to preach to the milde he sent me that I should heale the contrite of hart and preach indulgence to the captiues and deliuerance to them that are shut vp † That I should preach the placable yeare to the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God that I might comfort al that mourne † that I might appoint to the mourners of Sion and geue them a crowne for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning a mantel of prayse for the spirit of sorrowfulnes and they shal be called in it the strong of iustice planting of the Lord to glorifie † And they shal build the desertes from the begynning of the world and shal erect the old ruines and shal repayre the desolate cities that were dissipated in generation and generation † And aliens shal stand and feede your cattel and the children shal be your husbandmen and dressers of the vines † And you shal be called the priestes of the Lord to you it shal be sayd The ministers of our God you shal eate the strength of the Gentiles and in their glorie you shal be proude † For your double confusion and shame they shal prayse their part for this cause shal they receiue duble in their land euerlasting ioy shal be to them † Because I am the Lord that loue iudgement hate robberie in holocaust and I wil geue their worke in truth and make a perpetual couenant with them † And they shal know their seede in the Gentiles and their bud in the middes of peoples al that shal see them shal know them that these are the seede which the Lord hath blessed † Reioycing I wil reioyce in our Lord and my soule shal be ioyful in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation and with the garment of iustice he hath compassed me as a bridgrome decked with a crowne and as a bride adorned with her iewels † For as the earth bringeth forth her spring and as the garden shooteth forth his seede so shal our Lord God make iustice to spring forth and prayse before al the Gentiles CHAP. LXII The prophet auoucheth that he wil not cease from preaching Christ 4. to whom al nations shal be conuerted 8. whos 's Church shal continew for euer FOR Sion I wil not hold my peace and for Ierusalem I wil not rest til her iust one come forth as brightnes her sauiour be kindled as a lampe † And the Gentiles shal see thy iust one and al kinges thy noble one and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of our Lord shal name † And thou shalt be a crowne of glorie in the hand of our Lord and the diademe of a kingdome in the hand of thy God † Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken and thy land shal no more be called Desolate But thou shalt be called My wil in her and thy land inhabited because it hath wel pleased our Lord in thee and thy land shal be inhabited † For the yong man shal dwel with the virgin and thy children shal dwel in thee And the bridgrome shal reioyce vpon the birde thy God shal reioyce vpon thee † Vpon thy walles Ierusalem I haue appointed watchemen al the day and al the night for euer they shal not hold their peace You that remember our Lord hold not your peace † and geue not silence to him vntil he establish and vntil he make Ierusalem the prayse in the earth † Our Lord hath sworne by his right hand and by the arme of his strength If I shal geue thy wheate any more to be meate for thine enemies and if the strange children shal drinke thy wine wherein thou hast laboured † Because they that shal gather it together shal eate it and shal prayse the Lord and they that carie it together shal drinke it in my holie courtes † Passe ye passe ye through the gates prepare a way for the people make the iourney plaine picke vp the stones and lift vp the signe to the peoples † Behold our Lord hath made heard in the ends of the earth tel the daughter of Sion Behold thy sauiour cometh behold his reward is with him and his worke before him † And they shal cal them The holie people the redemed of our Lord. But thou shalt be called a citie Sought for and not Forsaken CHAP. LXIII Christ is described as a vistorious conquerour ascending into heauen with triumph embrued with bloud 7. For al whose benefites the Prophet rendreth thankes 10. expostulating the peoples ingratitude that prouoked God to wrath VVHO is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bosra this beautiful one in his robe going in the multitude of his strength I that speake iustice and am a defender to saue † Why then is thy clothing red and thy garments as theirs that treade in the wine presse † I haue troden the presse alone and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me I haue troden them in my furie and haue troden them downe in my wrath and their bloud is sprinkled vpon my garments and I haue stayned al my rayment † For the day of reuenge is in my hart the yeare of my redemption is come † I looked about there was no helper I sought and there was none to ayde and myne arme hath saued and myne indignation itself hath holpen me † And I haue troden downe the peoples in my furie and haue inebriated them in mine indignation and haue drawen their strength downe to the ground † I wil remember the mercies of our Lord the prayse of our Lord for al thinges that our Lord hath rendred to vs and for the multitude of the good thinges to the house of Israel which he hath geuen them according to his iudulgence and according to the multitude of his mercies † And he sayd But yet is my people children that denie not and he is become their sauiour † In al their tribulation he was not trubled and the angel of his face saued them in his loue and in his indulgence he redemed them and bare them and lifted them vp al the daies of the world † But they prouoked to wrath and afflicted the spirit of his holie one and he was turned to be their enemie and he conquered them † And he remembred the dayes of the world of Moyses and of his people
hast made to thee let them arise and deliuer thee in the time of thine affliction for according to the number of thy cities were thy goddes ô Iuda † What wil you contend with me in iudgement you haue al forsaken me saith our Lord. † In vaine haue I striken your children they haue not receiued discipline your sworde hath deuoured your prophetes as a wasting lion is your generation † See yee the word of our Lord why am I become a wildernes to Israel or a lateward springing land why then hath my people said We haue reuolted we wil no more come to thee † Wil a virgin forget her ornament or a bride the stomacher of her brest but my people hath forgotten me innumerable daies † Why dost thou endeuour to shew thy way good to seeke loue which moreouer also hast taught thy malices to be thy wayes † And in thy winges is found the bloud of the soules of the poore and innocentes Not in diches haue I found them but in al places which before I haue mentioned † And thou hast said I am without sinne and innocent and therfore let thy furie be turned away from me Beholde I wil contend with thee in iudgement because thou hast said I haue not sinned † How vile art thou become exceedingly iterating thy wayes and thou shalt be confounded of Aegypt as thou art confounded of Assur † For from hence also thou shalt goe and thy handes shal be vpon thy head because the Lord hath destroyed thy confidence and thou shalt haue nothing prosperous therein CHAP. III. I dolaters and other sinners are inuited to repent with promise of remission 6. but neither the kingdome of Israel nor Iuda wil returne 14 God stil calling some Iewes and manie Gentiles come to Christ IT IS commonly said If a man put away his wife and she departing from him marie an other man wil he returne to her anie more shal not that woman be polluted and contaminated but thou hast committed fornication with manie louers neuertheles returne vnto me saith our Lord and I wil receiue thee † Lift vp thine eies direct and see where thou hast not bene polluted thou didest sitte in the waies expecting them as a robber in the wildernes and thou hast polluted the land in thy fornications and in thy malices † For which thing the droppes of rayne were kept back and there was no lateward shower thou haddest an harlots forehead thou wouldest not blush † Therefore at the least from henceforth cal me thou art my father the guide of my virginitie † Why wilt thou be angrie for euer or wilt thou perseuere vnto the end Loe thou hast spoken and hast done euils and hast preuailed † And our Lord said to me in the daies of Iosias the king Hast thou seene what thinges the reuolter Israel hath done she hath gone of herself vpon euerie high mountaine and vnder euerie thicke greene tree and hath fornicated there † And I said when she had done al these thinges Returne to me and she returned not And Iuda her transgressing sister saw † because the rebel Israel had plaied the harlot I had put her away and geuen her a bil of diuorce and Iuda her transgressing sister was not afrayd but went and plaid the harlot also herself † And with the facilitie of her fornication she contaminated the land and plaid the harlot with stone and wood † And in al these thinges Iuda her transgressing sister hath not returned to me in her whole hart but in falsehood saith our Lord. † And our Lord said to me The rebellious Israel hath iustified her soule in comparison of the transgressour Iuda † Goe and crie these wordes against the North and thou shalt say Returne ô rebellious Israel saith our Lord and I wil not returne away my face from you because I am holie saith our Lord and I wil not be angrie for euer † But yet know thou thine iniquitie that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God and thou hast dispersed thy waies to strangers vnder euerie thicke greene tree and hast not heard my voice saith our Lord. † Returne ô ye reuolting children saith our Lord because I am your husband and I wil take you one of a citie and two of a kinred and wil bring you into Sion † And I wil geue you pastours according to my hart and they shal feede you with knowlege and doctrine † And when you shal be multiplied and increase in the land in those daies saith our Lord they shal say no more The Arke of the testament of our Lord neither shal it ascend vpon their hart neither shal they be mindeful thereof neither shal it be visited neither shal that be done anie more † In that time Ierusalem shal be called the throne of our Lord and al Gentiles shal be gathered together to it in the name of our Lord into Ierusalem they shal not walke after the peruersitie of their most wicked hart † In those daies the house of Iuda shal goe to the house of Israel and they shal come together from the land of the North to the land which I gaue to your fathers † But I said How shal I make thee as children and geue thee a land worthie to be desired the goodlie inheritance of the hostes of the Gentiles And I said Thou shalt cal me father shalt not cease to walke after me † But as if a woman should contemne her louer so hath the house of Israel contemned me saith our Lord. † A voice was heard in the waies weeping howling of the children of Israel because they haue made their way vniust they haue forgotten our Lord their God † Returne ye reuolting children and I wil heale your reuoltinges Behold we come to thee for thou art the Lord our God † In verie deede the litle hilles were lyars and the multitude of the mountaines verily in the Lord our God is the saluation of Israel † Confusion hath eaten the labour of our fathers from our youth thei● flockes and their heards their sonnes and their daughters † We shal sleepe in our confusion and our ignominie shal couer vs because we haue sinned to the Lord our God we and our fathers from our youth euen to this day and we haue not heard the voice of the Lord our God CHAP. IIII. An admonition to sincere repentance and circumcision of the hart 5. with threates of grieuous punishment to those that persist in sinne 19. Which the Prophet foreseing lamenteth the vastation of the land 27. yet mixt with consolation that it shal not be vtterly ruined IF thou wilt returne ô Israel saith our Lord returne to me if thou wilt take away thy stumbling blockes from my face thou shalt not be moued † And thou shalt sweare Our Lord liueth in truth in iudgement and in iustice and the Gentiles shal blesse him shal praise him † For thus saith
Iuda and the bones of the princes thereof and the bones of priests and the bones of the Prophets and the bones of them that inhabite Ierusalem out of their sepulchers † And they shal spread them abrode in the sunne and the moone and al the host of heauen which they haue loued and which they haue serued and after which they haue walked and which they haue sought and adored they shal not be gathered and they shal not be buried they shal be as a dunghil vpon the face of the earth † And they shal choose rather death then life al that shal be remaining of this wicked kinred in al places which are leaft to the which I haue cast them out saith the Lord of hostes † And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord Shal not he that falleth rise againe and he that is turned away shal he not turne againe † Why then is this people in Ierusalem turned away with a contentious reuolting they haue apprehended lying and would not returne † I attended and harkned no man speaketh that which is good there is none that doth penance for his sinne saying What haue I done They are al turned to their owne course as an horse going with violence to battel † The kite in the heauen hath knowen her time the turtle and the swalow and the storke haue obserued the time of their coming but my people haue not knowen the iudgement of the Lord. † How say you We are wise and the law of our Lord is with vs In very deede the lying penne of the Scribes hath wrought lying † The wise are confounded they are terrified taken for they haue cast away the word of our Lord and there is no wisedom in them † Therefore wil I geue their wemen to strangers their fildes to inheritours because from the least euen to the greatest al folow auarice from the prophet euen to the priest al make lies † And they healed the destruction of the daughter of my people to ignominie saying Peace peace when there was not peace † They are confounded because they haue done abomination yea rather they are not confounded with confusion and they haue not knowen how to blush therefore shal they fal among them that fal in the time of their visitation they shal fal saith our Lord. † Gathering I wil gather them together saith our Lord there is no grape in the vines and there are no figges on the figtree the leafe is fallen downe and I haue geuen them the thinges that are passed † Why doe we sitte come together and let vs enter into the fenced citie and let vs be silent there because the Lord our God hath made vs to be silent and hath geuen vs water of gaule for drinke for we haue sinned to our Lord. † We expected peace and there was no good a time of medicine and behold feare † From Dan was the snoring noyse of his horses heard with the voice of the neyinges of his fighting horses al the land was moued and they came and deuoured the land and the fulnes thereof the citie and the inhabitants thereof † For behold I wil send you serpents basaliskes for which there is no inchantment and they shal bite you saith our Lord. † My sorow is aboue sorow my hart mourning within me † Behold the voice of the daughter of my people from a farre countrie Is not our Lord in Sion or is not her king in her Why then haue they prouoked me to wrath in their sculptils and in strange vanities † The haruest is past sommer is ended and we are not saued † For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted and made sorowful astonishment hath taken me † Is there noe rosen in Galaad or is there no phisition there Why then is not the wound of the daughter of my people closed CHAP. IX The prophet lamenteth the future calamitie of the people and their false dealing ech with others 12. willing al to consider that their wickednes is the cause of their miserie 17. and to mourne 23. and returne to God 25. Who otherwise wil punish both Gentiles and Iewes not circumcised in hart VVHO wil geue water to my head and to mine eies a fountaine of teares and I wil weepe day night for the slaine of the daughter of my people † Who wil geue me in the wildernes an inne of wayfaring men and I wil forsake my people and depart from them because they are al adulterers an assemblie of transgressors † And they haue bent their tongue as a bowe of lying and not of truth they haue taken courege in the land because they haue proceeded from euil to euil and me they haue not knowen saith our Lord. † Let euerie man take heede to himself of his neighbour and in euerie brother of his let him not haue affiance because euerie brother supplanting wil supplant and euerie freind wil walke deceitfully † And man shal scorne his brother and they wil not speake truth for they haue taught their tongue to speake lies they haue laboured to doe vniustly † Thine inhabitation is in the middes of deceipt in deceipte they haue refused to know me saith our Lord. † Therefore thus saith the Lord of hostes Behold I wil melt and wil trie them for what els shal I doe at the face of the daughter of my people † Their tongue is a wandring arrow it hath spoken guile in his mouth he hath spoken peace with his freind and secretly he layeth waite for him † Shal I not visite vpon these thinges saith our Lord or vpon such a nation shal not my soule be reuenged † Vpon the mountaines I wil take vp weeping and lamentation vpon the beautiful places of the desert mourning because they are burnt for that there is not a man that passeth through they haue not heard the voice of the owner from the foule of the ayre vnto the beastes they are gone away and departed † And I wil make Ierusalem to be heapes of sand and dennes of dragons and I wil geue the cities of Iuda into desolation because there is not an inhabiter † Who is a wise man that can vnderstand this and to whom the word of the mouth of our Lord may be made that he may declare this why the earth hath perished and is burnt as a desert because there is none that passeth through † And our Lord said Because they haue forsaken my law which I gaue them and haue not heard my voice and haue not walked in it † And they haue gone after the peruersitie of their owne hart and after Baalim which they learned of their fathers † Therfore thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Behold I wil feede this people with worme wood and geue them water of gaule to drinke † And I wil disperse them in the Nations which they and their fathers haue not knowen and I wil
inhabitantes therof For in truth our Lord sent me to you that I should speake al these wordes in your eares † And the princes and al the people said to the priestes and to the prophetes There is no iudgement of death to this man because he hath spoken to vs in the name of the Lord our God † Men therefore of the ancients of the land rose vp and they spake to al the assemblie of the people saying † Michaeas the Morasthi was a prophet in the daies of Ezechias the king of Iuda and he spake to al the people Iuda saying Thus saith the Lord of hostes Sion shal be plowed as a field and Ierusalem shal be as an heape of stones and the mount of the house as the high places of woodes † Did Ezechias the king of Iuda and al Iuda condemne him to death Did they not feare our Lord and beseech the face of our Lord and it repented our Lord of the euil that he had spoken against them Therefore we doe great euil against our selues † There was also a man prophecying in the name of our Lord Vrias the sonne of Semei of Cariathiarim and he prophecied against this citie and against this land according to al the wordes of Ieremie † And king Ioakim and al his mighties and his princes heard these wordes the king sought to kil him And Vrias heard and was afraied and fled and went into Aegypt † And king Ioakim sent men into Aegypt Elnathan the sonne of Achobor and men with him into Aegypt † And they brought Vrias out of Aegypt and brought him to king Ioakim and he stroke him with the sword and he cast forth his carcasse in the sepulchers of the base vulgar people † Therefore the hand of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan was with Ieremie that he should not be deliuered into the handes of the people and they kil him CHAP. XXVII Ieremie putteth chaines about his owne necke and then sendeth them to sundrie kinges admonishing them that they must either be subiect to the king of Babylon 8. or perish by sword famine and pestilence 14. Inueigheth against false prophetes preaching the contrarie 16. and falsly affirming that the vessels already taken away shal quickly be restored 18. wheras in dede the rest shal also be caried away but al at last restored IN THE beginning of the kingdom of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda was this word made to Ieremie from our Lord saying † Thus saith our Lord to me Make thee bandes and chaynes and thou shalt put them on thy necke † And thou shalt send them to the king of Edom and to the king of Moab and to the king of the children of Ammon and to the king of Tyre and to the king of Sidon by the hand of the messengers that are come to Ierusalem to Sedecias the king of Iuda † And thou shalt command them that they speake to their lordes Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Thus shal you say to your lordes † I made the earth and men and the beastes that are vpon the face of the earth in my great strength and in my stretched out arme and I haue geuen it to him that pleased in mine eies † And now therefore I haue geuen al these landes into the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon my seruant more ouer also the beastes of the field I haue geuen him to serue him † And al nations shal serue him and his sonne and his sonnes sonne til the time come of his land and of himself and manie nations and great kinges shal serue him † But the nation and kingdome that shal not serue Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and who soeuer shal not bowe his necke vnder the yoke of the king of Babylon I wil visite vpon that nation with sword and with famine and with pestilence saith our Lord til I consume them in his hand † You therefore heare not your prophetes and deuiners and dreamers and southsayers and sorcerers that say to you You shal not serue the king of Babylon † Because they prophecie lies vnto you that they may make you far from your countrie and cast you out and you perish † But the nation that shal submit their necke vnder the yoke of the king of Babylon and shal serue him the same wil I let alone in their owne land saith our Lord and they shal husband it and dwel in it † And to Sedecias the king of Iuda I haue spoken according to al these wordes saying Submitte your neckes vnder the yoke of the king of Babylon serue him and his people you shal liue † Why wil you dye thou and thy people with the sword and famine the pestilence as the Lord hath spoken to the nation that wil not serue the king of Babylon † Heare not the wordes of the prophetes that say to you You shal not serue the king of Babylon because they speake a lie to you † Because I sent them not saith our Lord they prophecie in my name falsely that they may cast you out you perish as wel you as the prophetes that prophecie vnto you † And to the priestes and to this people I haue spoken saying Thus saith our Lord Heare not the wordes of your prophetes that prophecie to you saying Behold the vessels of our Lord shal returne out of Babylon euen now quickly for they prophecie a lie vnto you † Therefore heare them not but serue the king of Babylon that you may liue Why is this citie geuen into desolation † And if they be prophetes and the word of our Lord be in them let them interpose themselues before the Lord of hostes that the vessels which were leaft in the house of our Lord and in the house of the king of Iuda and in Ierusalem come not into Babylon † Because thus saith the Lord of hostes to the pillars and to the sea and to the feete and to the rest of the vessels that are remayning in this citie † Which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon tooke not when he transported Ieconias the sonne of Ioakim the king of Iuda from Ierusalem into Babylon and al the great men of Iuda and Ierusalem † Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to the vessels that are left in the house of our Lord and in the house of the king of Iuda and Ierusalem † They shal be transported into Babylon and there they shal be vntil the day of their visitation saith our Lord and I wil cause them to be brought and to be restored in this place CHAP. XXVIII Hananias a false prophet auoucheth that within two yeares the holie vessel and king I echonias with other captiues shal be restored 5. I eremie prayeth that it may be so 7. but prophecieth that it wil not so be 10. The false prophet in confirmation of that he saith breaketh I eremies chaine 12.
ye the transmigration which I haue sent out from Ierusalem into Babylon † Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to Achab the sonne of Colias and to Sedecias the sonne of Maasias which prophecie vnto you in my name falsely Behold I wil deliuer them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and he shal strike them in your eies † And of them a malediction shal be taken vp by al the transmigration of Iuda that is in Babylon saying Our Lord make thee as Sedecias and as Achab whom the king of Babylon fryed in the fire † for that they haue done follie in Israel and committed adulterie with their freindes wiues and haue spoken the word in my name falsely which I commanded them not I am the iudge and the witnes saith our Lord. † And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say † Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel For that thou hast sent in thy name bookes to al the people that is in Ierusalem and to Sophonias the sonne of Maasias the priest to al the priestes saying † Our Lord hath made thee priest for Ioiada the priest that thou shouldest be ruler in the house of our Lord vpon euerie man rauing and prophecying to put him into the stockes and into prison † And now why hast thou nor rebuked Ieremie the Anathothite which prophecieth vnto you † Because vpon this he hath sent into Babylon to vs saying It is long build ye houses and inhabite them and plant gardens and eate the fruities of them † Sophonias therefore the priest reade this booke in the eares of Ieremie the propher † And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying † Send to al the transmigration saying Thus saith the Lord to Semeias the Nehelamite Because Semeias hath prophecied to you and I sent him not and hath made you to trust in a lie † Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil visite vpon Semeias the Nehelamite and vpon his seede there shal not be vnto him a man sitting in the middes of this people and he shal not see the good that I wil doe to my people saith our Lord because he hath spoken preuarication against our Lord. CHAP. XXX The prophet is commanded to write the same which he preacheth 4. first pensiue thinges 8. Then ioyful 9. Especially in the new Testament when God wil raise Dauid towitte Christ 16. Who shal destroy al enemies 19 And whose Church shal be great glorious and perpetual THIS is the word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying † Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel saying Write vnto thee al the wordes that I haue spoken to thee in a booke † For behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil conuert the conuersion of my people Israel and Iuda saith our Lord and I wil make them returne to the land which I gaue their fathers and they shal possesse it † And these are the wordes that our Lord hath spoken to Israel and to Iuda † Because thus saith our Lord We haue heard a voice of terrour there is feare and no peace † Demand and see if a man beare childe wherefore then haue I seene euerie mans hand vpon his loyne as a woman that is in trauel and al faces are turned into the iaundice † Alas because that is a great day neither is there the like to it and it is the time of tribulation to Iacob and he shal be saued out of it † And it shal be in that day saith the Lord of hostes I wil breake his yoke from of thy necke and wil breake his bandes and strangers shal no more rule ouer him † but they shal serue our Lord their God and Dauid their king whom I wil raise vp to them † Thou therefore my seruant Iacob feare not saith our Lord neither be thou afrayd Israel because loe I wil saue thee out of a farre countrie and thy seede out of the land of their captiuitie and Iacob shal returne and be at rest flow with al good thinges and there shal be none whom he may feare † because I am with thee saith our Lord to saue thee for I wil make a consumation in al the Nations in which I haue dispersed thee but thee I wil not make into consummation but I wil chastice thee in iudgement that thou maist not seme to thy selfe innocent † Because thus saith our Lord Thy wound is vncurable thy stripe is very sore † There is none to iudge thy iudgement to binde it vp there is no prosite of medicines for thee † Al thy louers haue forgoten thee and wil not seeke thee for with the stroke of an enemie I haue striken thee with cruel chastisment for the multitude of thine iniquitie thy sinnes are hardened † What criest thou vpon thine affliction thy sorow is vncurable for the multitude of thine iniquitie and for thine hardned sinnes I haue done these thinges to thee † Therefore al that eate thee shal be deuoured and al thine enemies shal be led into captiuitie and they that waste thee shal be wasted and al thy spoilers wil I geue to the spoile † For I wil close vp thy wound and wil heale thee of thy woundes saith our Lord. Because they haue called thee ô Sion an out cast This is she that had none to seeke after her † Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil conuert the conuersion of the tabernacles of Iacob and wil haue pitie on his houses and the citie shal be built in her high place and the temple shal be founded according to the order thereof † And out of them shal come forth praise and the voice of them that play and I wil multiplie them and they shal not be diminished and I wil glorifie them they shal not be lessened † And his children shal be as from the beginning and his assemblie shal be permanent before me and I wil visite against al that afflict him † And his duke shal be of himself and the prince shal be brought forth from the middes of him and I wil bring him nere and he shal come to me For who is this that applieth his hart to approch vnto me saith our Lord † And you shal be my people and I wil be your God † Behold the whirle wind of our Lord the furie going forth the storme violently falling it shal light vpon the head of the impious † Our Lord wil not turne away the wrath of indignation til he haue done and accomplished the cogitation of his hart in the latter daies you shal vnderstand these thinges CHAP. XXXI God wil reduce Israel from captiuitie 4. and geue them abundance of al thinges 9. after their tribulation 15. Rachel The afflicted Church shal cease from mourning 18. confessing that she is iustly chastised 20. Christ a perfect man shal be conteyned in his mothers wombe 26. He rising from slepe death wil build
his Church 31. with a new couenant 36. that it shal be large and perpetual AT THAT time saith our Lord I wil be the God of al the kindredes of Israel and they shal be my people † Thus saith our Lord The people that remayned from the sword found grace in the desert Israel shal goe to his rest † Our Lord hath appeared to me of long time And in euerlasting charitie haue I loued thee therefore haue I drawen thee taking compassion † And I wil build thee againe and thou shalt be builded ô virgin Israel thou shalt yet be adorned with thy timbrels shal goe forth in the quyre of them that play † Thou shalt yet plant vinyards in the mountaines of Samaria the planters shal plant and til the time come they shal not make vintage † because there shal be a day wherein the watchmen on mount Ephraim shal crie Arise and let vs goe vp vnto Sion to the Lord our God † Because thus saith our Lord Reioyce in gladnes ô Iacob and neye against the head of the Gentiles sound ye and sing and say Saue ô Lord thy people the remnant of Israel † Behold I wil bring them out of the land of the North and wil gather them from the endes of the earth among whom shal be the blinde and the lame the woman with childe and she that beareth childe together a great companie of them that returne hither † They shal come in weepeing and in mercie I wil reduce them and I wil bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way and they shal not stumble in it because I am become a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstbegotten † Heare the word of our Lord ye Nations shew forth in the ilands that are farre of and say He that dispersed Israel wil gather him and he wil keepe him as the pastour his flocke † For our Lord hath redeemed Iacob and he wil deliuer him out of the hand of the mightier † And they shal come and shal praise in mount Sion and they shal runne together to the good thinges of our Lord for the corne and wine and oile and the increase of cattel and heardes and their soule shal be as a watered garden they shal be hungrie no more † Then shal the virgin reioyce in the quyre the youngmen and old men together and I wil turne their mourning into ioy and wil comfort them and make them ioyful from their sorow † And I wil replenish the soule of the priestes with fatnes and my people shal be filled with my good thinges saith our Lord. † Thus saith our Lord A voice of lamentation is heard on high of the mourning and weeping of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted for them because they are not † Thus saith our Lord Let thy voice cease from weeping and thine eies from teares because there is a reward for thy worke saith our Lord and they shal returne out of the land of the enemie † And there is hope to thy last endes saith our Lord and the children shal returne to their borders † Hearing I heard Ephraim going into trāsmigration Thou hast chastised me and I am taught as a young bullocke not tamed Conuert me and I shal be conuerted because thou art the Lord my God † For after thou didst conuert me I did penance and after thou didst shew vnto me I stroke my thigh I am confounded and ashamed because I haue sustayned the reproch of my youth † Certes Ephraim is an honorable sonne to me certes a delicate childe because since I spake of him as yet wil I remember him Therefore are my bowels trubled vpon him pitying I wil pitie him saith our Lord. † Sette thee a watch tower make vnto thee bitternes direct thy hart into the right way wherein thou hast walked returne ô virgin Israel returne to these thy cities † How long wilt thou be dissolute in deliciousnes ô wandring daughter because our Lord hath created a new thing vpon the earth A WOMAN SHAL COMPASSE A MAN † Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel As yet shal they say this word in the land of Iuda and in the cities thereof when I shal conuert their captiuitie Our Lord blesse thee the beauty of iustice the holie mountaine † and Iudas and al his cities shal dwel in it together the husbandmen and they that driue the flockes † Because I haue inebriated the wearie soule and euerie hungrie soule I haue filled † Therefore I was raised vp as out of a sleepe and I saw and my sleepe was sweete to me † Behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil sow the house of Israel and the house of Iuda with the seede of men and with the seede of beastes † And as I haue watched vpon them to plucke vp and deface and dissipate destroy and afflict so wil I watch ouer them to build and to plant them saith our Lord. † In those daies they shal say no more The fathers did eate the bitter grape and the teeth of the children are set on edge † But euerie one shal dye in his owne iniquitie euerie man that shal eate the sowre grape his teeth shal be on edge † Behold the daies shal come saith our Lord and I wil make a new couenant with the house of Israel and the house of Iuda † not according to the couenant which I made with their fathers in the day that I tooke their hand to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt the couenāt which they made voide and I had the dominion of them saith our Lord. † But this shal be the couenant that I wil make with the house of Israel after those daies saith our Lord I wil geue my law in their bowels and in their hart I wil write it and I wil be their God and they shal be my people † And a man shal no more teach his neighbour and a man his brother saying Know our Lord for al shal know me from the least of them euen to the greatest saith our Lord because I wil be propicious to their iniquitie and their sinne I wil remember no more † Thus saith our Lord that geueth the sunne for the light of the day the order of the moone and of the starres for the light of the night that trubleth the sea and the waues thereof doe sound the Lord of hostes is his name † If these lawes shal faile before me saith our Lord thee also the seede of Israel shal faile that it be not a nation before me for euer † Thus saith our Lord If the heauens aboue shal be able to be measured and the foundations of the earth beneth to be searched out I also wil cast away al the seede of Israel for al thinges that they haue done saith our Lord. † Behold the daies come saith our Lord
heard lift vp a signe proclame and conceale it not say Babylon is taken Bel is confounded Merodach is ouercome their sculptiles are confounded their idoles are ouercome † Because a nation is come vp against them from the North which shal bring her Land into desolation and there shal be none to dwel therein from man euen to beast and they are remoued and gone away † In those daies and in that time saith our Lord the children of Israel shal come they and the children of Iuda together walking and weeping they shal hasten and shal seeke the Lord their God † Into Sion they shal aske the way their faces hitherward They shal come and shal be ioyned to our Lord by an euerlasting couenant which shal by no obliuion be abolished † My people is become a lost flock their pastours haue seduced them and haue made them wander in the mountaynes they haue passed from mountayne to hil they haue frogotten their couch † Al that found them haue eaten them and their enemies said We haue not sinned because they haue sinned to the Lord the beautie of Iustice and to the Lord the expectation of their fathers † Depart out of the middes of Babylon and goe forth out of the land of the Chaldees and be ye as kiddes before the flocke † Because ●oe I rayse vp and wil bring into Babylon an assemblie of great nations from the land of the North and they shal be prepared against her and thereby she shal be taken his arrow as a valiant mans that is a killer shal nor returne voide † And Chaldea shal be for a praye al that waste it shal be filled saith our Lord. † Because you reioyce and speake great thinges spoyling mine inheritance because you are powred out as calues vpon the grasse and you haue belowed as bulles † Your Mother is confounded exceedingly and made euen with the dust she that bare you behold she shal be the last among the Gentiles desolate without accesse and drie † Of the wrath of our Lord it shal not be inhabited but shal be brought wholly into desolation euerie one that shal passe by Babylon shal be astonied and shal hisse vpon al the plagues thereof † Be prepared against Babylon round about al ye that bend bow ouerthrow her spare not arrowes because she hath sinned to our Lord. † Crie against her she hath geuen the hand euerie where her foundations are fallen her walles are destroyed because it is the vengeance of our Lord. Take vengeance of her as she hath done so doe to her † Destroy the sower ou● of Babylon and him that holdeth the sickle in the haruest time at the face of the sword of the doue euerie man shal returne to his people and euerie one shal slee to his owne land † Israel is a flock dispersed lyons haue cast him out first the king of Assur did eate him last this Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon hath spoyled his bones † Therefore thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Behold I wil visite the king of Babylon and his land as I haue visited the king of Assur † and I wil bring Israel againe to his habitation and Carmel shal be fed and Basan and in mount Ephraim and Galaad his soule shal be filled In those daies and in that time saith our Lord the iniquitie of Israel shal be sought and it shal not be and the sinne of Iuda and it shal not be found because I wil be propicious to them whom I shal leaue † Ascend vpon the land of them that rule and visite vpon the inhabitants thereof destroy and kil the thinges that are behind them saith our Lord and doe according to al thinges that I haue commanded thee † A voice of battel in the land and great destruction How is the hammer of the whole earth broken and destroyed how is Babylon turned into a desert among the nations † I haue snared thee and thou art taken Babylon and thou knewest it not thou art found apprehended because thou hast prouoked our Lord. † Our Lord hath opened his treasure and brought forth the vessels of his wrath because the Lord the God of hostes hath a worke in the land of the Chaldees † Come ye vnto her from the vttermost borders open that they may goe forth that shal tread her downe take the stones out of the way and bring it into heapes and kil her neither let there be anie thing left Destroy al her valiants let them descend into slaughter woe vnto them because their day is come the time of their visitation † A voice of them that flee and of them that haue escaped out of the land of Babylon to tel in Sion the reuenge of the Lord our God the reuenge of his temple † Declare ye against Babylon to verie manie to al that bend bow stand together against her round about and let none escape repay her according to her worke according to al thinges that she hath done doe ye to her because she is erected against our Lord against the holie one of Israel † Therefore shal her yongmen fal in her streetes and al her men of warre shal hold their peace in that day saith our Lord. † Behold I to thee thou prowd one saith our Lord the God of hostes because thy day is come the time of thy visitation † And the prowd shal fal and tumble downe and there shal be none to raise him vp and I wil kindle a fire in his cities and it shal deuoure al thinges round about him † Thus saith the Lord of hostes The children of Israel and the children of Iuda fusteyne calumnie together al that haue taken them hold them they wil not let them goe † Their strong redeemer the Lord of hostes is his name in iudgement wil defend their cause to terrifie the land and to stirre vp the inhabitantes of Babylon † The sword to the Chaldees saith our Lord and to the inhabitants of Babylon and to her princes and to her wise men † The sword to her diuiners who shal be foolish the sword to her valiants who shal be afraid † The sword to his horses and to his chariots and to al the common people that is in the middes of her and they shal be as wemen the sword to her treasures which shal be spoyled † There shal be drought vpon her waters and they shal be dryed vp because it is a land of sculptiles and they glorie in monstrous thinges † Therefore shal the dragons dwel with the foolish murderers and the ostriches shal dwel in it and it shal no more be inhabited for euer neither shal it be built euen to generation and generation † As our Lord ouerthrew Sodom and Gomorrha and the neighbours thereof saith our Lord there shal no man dwel there and sonne of man shal not inhabite it † Behold a people cometh from the North and a great
nation and manie kinges shal rise from the endes of the earth † They shal take bow and shield they are cruel and vnmerciful their voice shal sound as the sea and they shal mount vpon horses as a man prepared to battel against thee ô daughter of Babylon † The king of Babylon hath heard the fame of them and his handes are dissolued anguish hath caught him sorow as a woman in trauel † Behold as a lion he shal come vp from the pride of Iordan to the strong beautifulnes because I wil make him runne sodenly to her and who shal be a chosen one whom I may appoint ouer her For who is like to me and who shal abide me and who is this pastour that can resist my countenance † Therefore heare ye the counsel of our Lord which he hath conceiued in his minde against Babylon and his cogitations which he hath thought vpon the land of the Chaldees Vnles the litle ones of the flockes shal plucke them downe vnles their habitation shal be destroyed with them † At the voice of the captiuitie of Babylon the earth is moued and the crie is heard amongst the Nations CHAP. LI. More misories shal fal vpon Babylon 11. by the Medes with destruction of her idoles THVS saith our Lord Behold I wil raise vpon Babylon and vpon the inhabitants thereof which haue lifted vp their hart against me as it were a pestilent winde † And I wil send vpon Babylon ●anners and they shal fanne it and shal destroy her land because they are come vpon her on euerie side in the day of her affliction † Let not him that bendeth bend his bow and let not him goe vp that is in a brigandin spare not her young men kil al her host † And the slaine shal fal in the land of the Chaldees and the wounded in the countries thereof † Because Israel and Iuda haue not bene left as a widow of their God the Lord of hostes but their land hath bene replenished with sinne from the holie one of Israel † Flee ye out of the middes of Babylon and let euerie one saue his owne life hold not your peace vpon her iniquitie because it is the time of reuenge from our Lord he wil requite her the like † Babylon is a golden cuppe in the hand of our Lord inebriating al the earth of her wine haue the Nations drunke and therefore they are in commotion † Babylon is fallen sodenly and is destroyed howle ye vpon her take resine for her sorow if perhaps she may be healed † We haue cured Babylon and she is not healed let vs forsake her let vs goe euerie man to his owne land because her iudgement hath reached euen to the heauens is lifted vp vnto the clowdes † Our Lord hath brought forth our iustices come and let vs tel in Sion the worke of the Lord our God † Make sharpe the arrowes fil the quiuers our Lord hath raysed vp the spirite of the kinges of the Medes and against Babylon his minde is to destroy it because it is the reuenge of our Lord the reuenge of his temple † Vpon the walles of Babylon lift vp the ensigne increase the watch set vp watchemen prepare embushments because our Lord hath meant and hath done what soeuer he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon † Thou that dwellest vpon manie waters rich in treasures thine end is come with in a foote of thy cutting of † The Lord of hostes hath sworne by his soule that I wil replenish thee with men as it were with the locust and vpon thee shal the merie shoute be song † He that made the earth in his strength hath prepared the world in his wisedom and with his prudence stretched out the heauens † He geuing a voice the waters are multiplied in heauen who lifteth vp the clowdes from the extreme part of the earth lightenings he hath turned into rayne and he hath brought forth the winde out of his treasures † Euerie man is become a foole by knowlege euerie mettal caster is confounded in his sculptil because his casting is counterfet neither is there spirite in them † They are vaine workes and worthie to be laughed at in the time of their visitation they shal perish † The portion of Iacob is not as these thinges because he that made al thinges he it is and Israel is the scepter of his inheritance the Lord of hostes is his name † Thou doest knocke together the vessels of warre for me and I wil knock together in thee the Gentiles and I wil destroy in thee kingdomes † And I wil breake in thee the horse and his rider and I wil knock together in thee the chariot and the rider thereof † And I wil knocke together in thee man and woman and I wil knocke together in thee the old man and the child and I wil knock together in thee the young man and the virgin † and I wil knocke together in thee the pastour and his flocke and I wil knocke together in thee the husbandman and his draweing cattle and I wil knocke together in thee dukes and magistrates † And I wil render to Babylon and to al the inhabitants of Chaldee al their euil that they haue done in Sion before your eyes saith our Lord. † Behold I to thee thou pestiferous mountaine saith our Lord which corruptest the whole earth and I wil streatch out my hand vpon thee and wil roll thee out of the rockes and wil geue thee to be a mountayne of burning † And they shal not take of thee a stone for the corner and a stone for foundations but thou shalt be destroyed for euer saith our Lord. † Lift ye vp an ensigne in the land sound with the trumpet among the Gentiles sanctifie the Gentiles vpon her declare against her to the kinges of Ararat Menni and Ascenez number Taphsar against her bring the horse as the stinging locust † Sanctifie the Gentiles against her the kings of Media the dukes thereof and al the Magistrates thereof al the land of his dominion † And the land shal be in a commotion and shal be trubled because the cogitation of our Lord shal awake against Babylon to lay the Land of Babylon desert and inhabitable † The valiants of Babylon haue ceased from battel they haue dwelt in holdes their strength is deuoured and they are become as wemen her tabernacles are burnt her barres are broken † A runner shal come to meete the runner and messenger to meete messenger to tel the king of Babylon that his citie is taken from one end to the other † and the fordes are taken before hand and the fennes be burnt with fire and the men of warre be trubled † Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel The daughter of Babylon is as a barne floore the time of her threshing yet a litle and the time of her reaping shal come
as the wounded in the streets of the citie when they yelded vp the ghostes in the bosome of their mothers Wherto shal I compare thee or wherto shal I liken thee ô daughter of Ierusalem wherto shal I make thee equal and comfort thee ô virgin daughter of Sion For great is thy destruction as the sea who shal heale thee Thy prophetes haue sene false and foolish thinges for thee neither haue they opened thyne iniquitie to prouoke thee to penance but they haue sene false burdens and banishements for thee Al that passed by the way haue clapped their handes vpon thee they haue hissed and moued their head vpon the daughter of Ierusalem saying Is this the citie of perfect beautie the ioy of al the earth Al thyne enemies haue opened their mouth vpon thee they haue hissed and gnashed with the teeth and haue sayd We wil deuour Loe this is the day which we expected we haue found it we haue sene it Our Lord hath done the thinges that he meant he hath accomplished his word which he commanded from the dayes of old he hath destroyed and hath not spared and he hath made the enemie ioyful ouer thee and hath exalted the horne of thine aduersaries Their hart hath cryed to our Lord vpon the walles of the daughter of Sion Shede teares as a torrent by day and night geue no rest to thyself neither let the aple of thyne eye cease Arise prayse in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy hart as waters before the sight of our Lord lift vp thy handes to him for the life of thy litle ones which haue fainted for famine in the head of al high wayes See ô Lord and consider whom thou hast vintaged thus shal wemen then eate their owne fruite litle ones of the measure of a spanne is the priest and the prophet slaine in the sanctuarie of our Lord The childe and the old man lay on the ground without my virgins and my yongmen are fallen by the sword thou hast killed in the day of thy furie thou hast strooken neither hast thou had mercie Thou hast called as it were to a solemne day those that should terrifie me round about and there was none in the day of the furie of our Lord that escaped and was left whom I brought vp nourished mine enemie hath consumed them CHAP. III. I THE man that see my pouertie in the rod of his indignation He hath led me and brought me into darknes and not into light Only against me he hath turned and hath conuerted his hand al the day He hath made my skinne old and my flesh he hath broken my bones He hath built round about me and he hath compased me with gaul and labour In darke places he hath placed me as the euerlasting dead He hath built round about against me that I goe not forth he hath aggrauated my fetters Yea and when I shal crie and aske he hath excluded my prayer He hath shut vp my wayes with square stones he hath subuerted my pathes He is become vnto me a beare lying in waite a lyon in secret places He hath subuerted my pathes and hath broken me he hath made me desolate He hath bent his bow and set me as a marke for the arrow He hath shot in my reines the daughters of his quiuer I am made a derision to al my people their songue al the day He hath replenished me with bitternes he hath inebriated me with wormwood And he hath broken my teeth by number he hath fed me with ashes And my soule is repelled from peace I haue forgotten good thinges And I sayd Mine end is perished and mine hope from our Lord. Remember my pouertie and transgression the wormwood and the gual Remembring I wil be mindful and my soule shal languish in me Recording this thing in my hart therfore wil I hope The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed because his commiserations haue not fayled New in the morning great is thy fidelite Our Lord is my portion sayd my soule therfore wil I expect him Our Lord is good to them that hope in him to the soule that seeketh him It is good to waite with silence for the saluation of God It is good for a man when he beareth the yoke from his youth He shal sit solitarie and hold his peace because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himself He shal put his mouth in the dust if perhaps there be hope He shal geue the cheeke to him that striketh him he shal be filled with reproches Because our Lord wil not reiect for euer Because if he hath reiected he wil also haue mercie according to the multitude of his merciés For he hath not humbled from his hart and cast of the children of men To stamp vnder his fete al the prisoners of the earth To auert the iudgement of a man before the face of the Highest To peruert a man in his iudgement our Lord hath not knowne Who is this that hath commanded it to be done our Lord not commanding it Out of the mouth of the Highest there shal not procede neither euil thinges nor good What hath the liuing man murmured man for his sinnes Let vs search our wayes seeke and returne to our Lord. Let vs lift vp our hartes with our handes to our Lord into the heauens We haue done wickedly and prouoked to wrath therfore thou art inexorable Thou hast couered in furie and hast strooken vs thou hast killed and not spared Thou hast sette a cloude before thee that prayer may not passe Thou hast made me to be rooted out and abiect in the middes of the peoples Al the enemies haue opened their mouth vpon vs. Prophecie is made vnto vs feare and snare and destruction Myne eye hath shed streames of waters in the destruction of the daughter of my people Myne eye is afflicted neither hath it bene quiet because there was no rest Til our Lord regarded and looked from the heauens Mine eye hath spoyled my soule for al the daughters of my citie Myne enemies in hunting haue caught me as a birde without cause My life is fallen into the lake and they haue layd a stone vpon me The waters haue flowed ouer my head I sayd I am vndone I haue inuocated thy name ô Lord from the lowest lake Thou hast heard my voice turne not away thine eare from my sobbings and cries Thou didst approch in the day when I inuocated thee thou hast sayd Feare not Thou hast iudged ô Lord the cause of my soule redemer
of my life Thou hast seene ô Lord their iniquitie against me iudge my iudgement Thou hast seene al their furie al their cogitations against me Thou hast heard their reproch ô Lord al their cogitations against me The lippes of them that rise vp against me and their cogitations against me al the day See their sitting downe and their rysing vp I am their psalme Thou shalt render them a recompence ô Lord according to the workes of their handes Thou shalt geue them a shild of hart thy labour Thou shalt persecute in furie and shalt destroy them from vnder the heauens ô Lord. CHAP. IIII. HOW is the gold darkned the best colour changed the stones of the sanctuarie dispersed in the head of al streetes The noble children of Sion they that were clothed with the principal gold how are they reputed as earthen vessels the worke of the potters handes Yea euen the lamiaes haue opened their breast they haue geuen sucke to their yong the daughter of my people is cruel as the ostrich in the desert The tongue of the suckling hath clouen to the roofe of his mouth for thirst the litle ones haue asked bread and there was none that brake it vnto them They that fed vol●ptuously haue dyed in the wayes they that were brought vp in scarlet haue imbraced the dung And the iniquitie of the daughter of my people is become greater then the sinne of Sodom which was ouerthrowen in a moment and handes tooke nothing in her Her Nazareites whiter then snow purer then milke ●u●dier then the old yuorie fayrer then the sapphire Their face is made blacker then coales and they are not knowne in the streetes their skinne hath clouen to their bones it is withered and is made as wood It was better with them that were slaine with the sword then with them that were killed by famine because these pyned away consumed by the barrennes of the countrie The handes of pitiful wemen haue sodden their owne children they were made their meate in the destruction of the daughter of my people Our Lord hath accomplished his furie he hath powred out the wrath of his indignation and he hath kindled a fyre in Sion and it hath deuoured the fundations therof The kinges of the earth and al the inhabitants of the world did not beleue that the aduersarie and the enemie should enter in by the gates of Ierusalem For the sinnes of her prophets and the iniquities of her priestes which haue shed the bloud of iust men in the middes of her The blind wandered in the streetes they were polluted with bloud and when they could not they held their skirtes Depart ye polluted they cryed to them depart get ye hence touch not for they brawled were moued they said among the Gentiles He wil adde no more to dwel among thē The face of our Lord hath diuided them he wil not adde to respect them they haue not reuerenced the faces of the priests neither had they pitie on the ancients Whiles we yet stood our eyes fayled towards our vaine helpe when we looked attentiue to a nation that was not able to saue Our steppes slipped in the way of our streetes our end draweth nere our dayes are accomplished because our end is come Our persecuters were swifter then the eagles of the heauen vpon the mountaines they pursued vs in the desert they lay in waite against vs. The spirit of our mouth Christ our Lord is taken in our sinnes to whom we haue said In thy shadow shal we liue among the Gentiles Reioyce and be glad ô daughter of Edom which dwellest in the Land of Hus to thee also shal the cuppe come thou shalt be made drunken and naked Thine iniquitie is accomplished ô daughter of Sion he wil adde no more to transport thee he hath visited thine iniquitie ô daughter of Edom he hath discouered thy sinnes CHAP. V. The prayer of Ieremie the Prophet REmember ô Lord what is fallen to vs behold and regard our reproch † Our inheritance is turned to aliens our houses to strangers † We are made pupils without father our mothers are as it were widowes † Our water we haue drunke for money our wood we haue bought for a price † We were led by our neckes no rest was geuen to the wearie † We haue geuen our hand to Aegypt and to the Assyrians that we might be filled with bread † Our fathers haue sinned and they are not we haue borne their iniquities † Seruantes haue ruled ouer vs there was none that would redeme vs out of their hand † In peril of our liues did we fetch vs bread at the face of the sword in the desert † Our skinne was burnt as an ouen by reason of the tempests of famine † They humbled the wemen in Sion and the virgins in the cities of Iuda † The princes were hanged vp by the hand they did not reuerence the faces of the ancients † Yongmen they abused vnchastly and the children fel in wood † The ancients decayed out of the gates the yongmen out of the quier of the singers † The ioy of our hart hath fayled our quyre is turned into mourning † The crowne of our head is fallen wo to vs because we haue sinned † Therfore is our hart made sorowful therfore are our eyes darkned † For mount Sion because it is perished foxes haue walked on it † But thou ô Lord shalt remaine for euer thy throne in generation and to generation † Why wilt thou for euer be forgetful of vs wilt thou forsake vs in length of daies † Conuert vs ô Lord to thee and we shal be conuerted renew our dayes as from the beginning † But reiecting thou hast reiected vs thou art angrie against vs excedingly THE ARGVMENT OF BARVCHS PROPHECIE MANIE ancient Fathers supposed this Prophecie to be Ieremies though none doubted but Baruch his scribe was the writer therof So S. Xistus Epist ad omnes fideles S. Ireneus li. 5. c. 35. S. Clement of Alexandria li. 1. c. 10. li. 2. c. 3. Pedag. S. Cyprian li. 2. c. 5. 6. contra Iudaeos Eusebius Coesariensis li. de Propheticorum libor appellationibus Cap. de Ieromia li. 6. c. 19. Demonst Euangel Lactantius li. 4. c. 13. Diuin Instit The first Councel of Nice li. 2. fol. 105. 109. S. Hilarie li. 5. de Trinit sub finem S. Cyril of Ierusalem Catechesi 4. 11. de Concursu Domini S. Basil li. 4. cont Eunomium S. Ambrose li. de fide c. 7. cont Arianos li. de Paenit c. 8. li. 3. Examer c. 14. S. Gregorie Nazianzen Orat. 49. deside Epist. 2. ad Cled●nium S. Epiphanius cont
hadst walked in the way of God thou hadst verely dwelt in peace euerlasting † Learne where wisedom is where strength is where vnderstanding is that thou mayst know withal where is the long continuance of life and liuing where the light of the eyes and peace is † Who hath found the place therof and who hath entered into the treasures therof † Where are the princes of the Gentiles and they that rule ouer the beasts that are vpon the earth † that play with the birdes of the heauen † that treasure vp siluer and gold wherin men haue confidence and is there no end of their getting which fashion siluer are careful neither is there invention of their workes † They are destroyed and are gone downe to hel and others are risen vp in their place † Yong men saw the light and dwelt vpon the earth but the way of discipline they knew not † neither vnderstood they the pathes therof neither haue their children receiued it it is made farre from their face † It hath not bene heard in the Land of Chanaan neither hath it bene seene in Theman † The children of Agar also that seke out the prudence that is of the earth marchants of Merrhe and of Theman and fablers and searchers of prudence and vnderstanding but the way of wisedom they haue not knowne neither haue they remembrēd the pathes therof † O Israel how great is the house of God and how great is the place of his possession † It is great and hath no end high and vnmesurable † There were the Giants those renowned that were from the beginning of big stature expert in warre † These did not our Lord choose neither found they the way of discipline therfore did they perish † And because they had not wisedom they perished through their follie † Who hath ascended into heauen and taken her and brought her downe from the clowdes † Who hath passed ouer the sea and found her and brought her aboue chosen gold † There is none that can know her waies nor that can search out her pathes † but he that knoweth al thinges knoweth her hath found her out by his prudence he that prepared the earth in time euerlasting and replenished it with cattel and fourefooted beastes † he that sendeth forth light and it goeth and hath called it and it obeyeth him with trembling † And the starres haue geuen light in their watches and reioyced † they were called and they said here we are and they haue shined to him with cheerfulnes that made them † This is out God and there shal none other be estemed against him † He found out al the way of discipline and deliuered it to Iacob his seruant and to Israel his beloued † After these thinges he was sene vpon the earth and was conuersant with men CHAP. IIII. Gods people neglecting his grace offered to them more then to other nations 6. are seuerely punished 15. by captiuitie 18. but are reserued 22. and repenting shal be released 31. and their enimies destroyed THIS is the booke of the commandments of God and the law that is for euer al that hold it shal come to life but they that haue forsaken it into death † Returne Iacob and take hold of it walke by the way to the brightnes of it against the light therof † Deliuer not thy glorie to an other dignitie to a strange nation † We are blessed ô Israel because the thinges that please God are manifest to vs. † Be of good comfort ô people of God memorable Israel † you are sold to the Gentiles not into perdition but for that in anger you prouoked God to wrath you are deliuered to the aduersaries † For you haue exasperated him that made you the eternal God immolating to diuels and not to God † For you haue forgotten God who hath nourished you and your nource Ierusalem you haue made sorowful † For she saw the wrath comming from God to you and she sayd Heare ye confines of Sion for God hath brought me great mourning † For I haue sene the captiuitie of my people and of my sonnes and daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them † For I nourished them with ioyfulnes but I haue left them with weeping and mourning † Let no man reiovce ouer me a widow and desolate I am forsaken of manie for the sinnes of my children because they haue declined from the law of God † And his iustices they haue not knowne nor walked by the wayes of Gods commandments neither haue they entered by the pathes of his truth and iustice † Let the borderers of Sion come and remember the captiuitie of my sonnes daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them † For he hath brought vpon them a nation from a farre a wicked nation and of an other tongue † which haue not reuerenced the ancient nor pitied the children haue led away the beloued of the widow and made the sole woman desolate of children † But as for me what can I helpe you † For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he wil deliuer you out of the handes of your enemies † walke children walke for I am left alone † I haue put of the stole of peace and I haue put vpon me the sackcloth of prayer and I wil crie to the Highest in my dayes † Be of good comfort my children crie to our Lord and he wil deliuer you out of the hand of the princes your enemies † For I haue hoped in the euerlasting for your saluation ioy is come to me from the holie one vpon the mercie which shal come to you from our euerlasting sauiour † For I sent you forth with mourning and weeping but our Lord wil bring you backe to me with ioy and gladnes for euer † For as the neighbours of Sion haue seene your captiuitie from God so shal they see also with celeritie your saluation from God which shal come vpon you with great honour and euerlasting brightnes † Children patiently sustaine the wrath which is come vpon you for thyne enemie hath persecuted thee but thou shalt quickly see his destruction and thou shalt get vp vpon his necke † My delicate ones haue walked rough waies for they are led as a flocke taken violently of the enemies † Be of good comfort children and crie out to our Lord for there shal be remembrance of you with him that hath led you away † For as your minde hath bene to stray from God ten tymes so much shal you returning againe seeke him † For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he againe wil bring vnto you euerlasting ioy with your saluation † Be of good comfort Ierusalem for he exhorteth thee that named thee † The wicked afflicters shal perish that haue vexed thee they that haue reioyced in thy ruine shal be punished † The cities which thy children haue serued shal be punished
to haue in length on the north quarter foure thousand fiue hundred reedes vvith the same length on the vvest quarter and consequently on the east and south that is nine thousand passes or nine myles on euerie side in al the circuite thirtie six myles Of vvhich greatnes it is certaine the temple and citie neuer were No not after the temple vvas augmented by Herod Ascolo●ites vvherof Iosephus writeth li. 15. c. 14. Antiq. Iud●icarum Neither vvere there anie such waters issuing from the material temple nor such trees on the bankes therof bringing forth fruites euerie moneth as are described ch 47. v. 1. 12. Al vvhich vvith other like dissonances considered the later Iewes confessing that this prophecie is not hitherto fulfilled say that their Messias whom they expect shal builde such a terrestrial citie and temple with al the appertinances as are shewed in this vision Reiecting therfore these Iewish errors and ridiculous imaginations Richardus de Sancto Victore Hugo Cardinalis Nicolaus Lyranus and some other Christian Doctors suppose that God in dede conditionally according to his antecedent wil promised al these thinges euen as the letter soundeth to the Iewes if after their deliuerie from captiuitie they should sincerely serue him vvalke rightly in his wayes and perfectly kepe his commandmentes And that besides this supposed literal sense al the same should more excellently be performed in the mystical temple and citie of God our Sauiour Christ and his Church But for so much say these Doctors as the Iewes performed not that which vvas required of their part in perfect life and due seruice of God this vision was not fulfilled but only in some part according to the vertues and merites of the better sorte of that people by the restauration of the citie temple and other thinges as in the bookes of Esdras that lastly for their general reuolt from Christ persecuting him to death their temple and citie were againe destroyed the people slaine dispersed reiected except only the few reliques conuerted to Christ In vvhom with the multitude of Gentiles the vvhole vision hath ful effect This opinion albeit grounded in probabilitie yet semeth not so certaine nor in dede so probable as the iudgement of S. Ierom S. Theodoret in their commentaries as also of S. Gregorie in his homiles vpon Ezechiel and of manie others both ancient and late writers VVho not finding hovv to applie this vision in al partes to the state of the old testament neither that promise of such a huge great temple and citie with the rest vvere agreable to Gods vvisdome do only expound this vision to perteine in some partes to the Iewes reduced from temporal captiuitie as in figure of al mankind redemed by Christ and of his Church gathered of al nations enriched and adorned vvith al spiritual graces vertues and powre Neither yet expounding al of the militant Church but some part of the triumphant only as surpassing the perfectest state of this transitorie life Vve therfore out of their large discourses shal abridge a fevv and brief marginal notes for some light of vnderstanding the text and entrance into the spiritual sense principally intended by the Holie Ghost CHAP. XL. In a vision the prophet seeth the reedisication of Ierusalem 5. with the measures of diuers partes therof 47. and of the court and entrie of the temple IN the fiue and twentith yeare of our transmigration in the beginning of the yeare the tenth of the moneth the fourtenth yeare after the citie was strooken in this self same day the hand of our Lord was made vpon me and he brought me thither † In the visions of God he brought me into the Land of Israel and left me vpon a mountaine exceding high vpon which there was as it were the building of a citie bending toward the south † And he brought me in thither and behold a man whose forme was as the forme of brasse and a linen corde in his hand and a reede of measure in his hand he stood in the gate † And the same man spake to me Sonne of man see with thine eyes and heare with thine eares and set thy hart on al thinges which I wil shew thee for thou art brought hither that they may be shewed to thee declare al thinges that thou seest to the house of Israel † And behold a wal on the out side round about the house and in the mans hand a reede of measure of six cubits a palme he measured the breadth of the building with one reede the height also with one reede † And he came to the gate that looked to the way of the east he ascended by the steppes therof he measured the threshold of the gate with one reede the bredth that is one threshold with one reede in bredth † and a chamber with one reede in length and one reede in bredth and betwen the chambers fiue cubites † and the threshold of the gate by entrie of the gate within with one reede † And he measured the entrie of the gate of eight cubites and the front therof of two cubites and the entrie of the gate was within † Moreouer the chambers of the gate to the way of the East three on this side and three on that side one measure of the three and one measure of the fronts on both partes † And he measured the bredth of the threshold of the gate of tenne cubits and the length of the gate of thirtene cubits † and the border before the chambers of one cubite and one cubite the end on both sides and the chambers were of six cubites on this side and that side † And he measured the gate from the roofe of the chamber euen to the roofe therof the bredth of fiue and twentie cubits doore against doore † And he made fronts by sixtie cubits to the front the court of the gate on euerie side round about † And before the face of the gate which raught euen to the face of the entrie of the inner gate fiftie cubits † And oblique windowes in the chambers and in their fronts which were within the gate on euerie side round about and in like maner there were also in the entries windowes round about within and before the fronts the picture of palme trees grauen † And he brought me out to the vtter court and behold celles and the pauement paued with stone in the court round about thirtie celles in the compas of the pauement † And the pauement in the front of the gates according to the length of the gates was beneath † And he measured the bredth from the face of the lower gate euen to the front of the inner court without an hundred cubits to the East and to the North. † The gate also that looked to the way of the North of the vtter court he measured as wel in length as in bredth †
youth † Sacrifice and libation is perished out of the house of our Lord the priests our Lords ministers mourned † The region is destroyed the ground hath mourned because the wheate is wasted the wine is confounded the oyle hath languished † The husbandmen are confounded the dressers of vines haue howled vpon the wheate and the barley because the haruest of the filde is perished † The vineyard is confounded and the figtree hath languished the pomegranet the palmetree and the appletree and al the trees of the filde are withered because ioy is confounded from the children of men † Gird yourselues and mourne ye priests howle ye ministers of the altar goe in lie in sacke clothe ye ministers of my God because sacrifice libation is perished out of the house of your God † Sanctifie ye a fast cal an assemblie gather together the ancients al the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God and crie ye to our Lord † A a a for the day because the day of our Lord is at hand and as destruction from the mightie it shal come † Why are not the victuals perished before your eyes ioy and exultation out of the house of our God † The beastes are rotted in their dung the barnes are destroyed the storehouses are dissipated because the wheate is confounded † Why groned the beast why lowed the flockes of the heard because there is no pasture for them yea and the flockes of the cattel are perished † To thee ô Lord wil I crie because fire hath eaten the beautiful thinges of the desert and the flame hath burnt al the trees of the region † Yea and the beastes of the filde as a garden bed thirsting for a shower haue looked vp to thee because the fountaines of waters are dried vp fire hath deuoured the beautiful thinges of the desert ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 4. The residue of the eruke loeust bruke blast Eruca a vvorme that destroyeth herbes and fruictes Locusta a fleing beast vvith long hinder legges destroying corne and fruite Bruchus an other fleeing litle beast that deuoureth not only fruite but also the leaues of trees and Rubigo the blast or burning myst that consumeth the eares of corne euen to dust do metaphorically signifie the Chaldees and other souldiars of sundrie nations in the armie of Nabuchodonosor inuading wasting the kingdom of Iuda And that at foure seueral times euer worse worse First when Nabuchodonosor beseeging Ierusalē subdued king Ioakim and his kingdom taking hostages for assurance of subiection amongst vvhich vvere Daniel and the other three children and caried avvay part of the holie vessel of the Temple 4. Reg 24 v. 1. The second vvhen eight yeares after Nabuchodonosor returned and killed king Ioakim for rebelling and caried his sonne king Ioachin othervvise called Iechonias into Babylon with his mother and Ieremie the Prophet also manie other principal persons and much riches ibidem v. 10. The third vvhen eleuen yeares after he tooke and spoyled Ierusalem destroyed the Temple killed al king Sedecias sonnes in his sight then put out his eyes and caried him blinde into Babylon vvith much more people and spoyle 4. Reg 25. Fourthly when shortly after he sent Nabuzardan general of his armie and caried avvay more men and vvealth leauing only the basest people to til the land ibidem v. 8. Al vvhich shevveth clerly the fulfilling of this Prophecie according to the historical letter In like sorte vve might explicate the rest of this and other prophetes but it is not our purpose to be so large Much lesse to prosecute the Mystical sense vvhich is manifold as appeareth in the vvorkes of the ancient Fathers VVherof see F. Francis Ribera CHAP. II. The Chaldees wil assault afflict the Iewes with great violence 12. After humble repentance in captiuitie 18. Gods benignitie wil comforte them 23. with abundance of spiritual grace by Christ 28. sending also the Holie Ghost 30. And terrible signes before the day of Iudgement SOVND ye with the trumpet in Sion howle in my holie mount let al the inhabitants of the land be trubled Because the day of our Lord cometh † because the day of darkenes and of mist is neere the day of clowde and whirlewind as the morning spred vpon the montaines much people strong the like to it hath not bene from the beginning and after it shal not be euen vnto the yeares of generation generation † Before the face therof a deuouring fyre and after it a burning flame the land before it as it were a garden of pleasure and after it the wildernes of a desert neither is there that can escape it † As the appearance of horses their appearance as horsemen so shal they runne † As the sound of chariots vpon the toppes of mountaines shal they leape as the sound of a flame of fire deuouring stubble as a strong people prepared to battel † At his presence the people shal be vexed al visages shal be made like a potte † They shal runne as valients as men of warre they shal scale the wal the men shal march in their wayes shal not decline from their pathes † None shal presse his brother they shal walke euerie one in his owne pathe yea through the windowes they shal fal shal not demolish † They shal enter the city they shal runne on the wal they shal climbe the houses by the windowes they shal enter as a theefe † At his presence the earth hath trembled the heauens are moued the sunne and moone are darkened and the starres haue withdrawne their shining † And our Lord hath geuen his voice before the face of his host because his campes are exceding manie because strong doing his word for great is the day of our Lord terrible excedingly and who shal susteyne it † Now therfore sayth our Lord Conuert to me in al your hart in fasting and in weeping and in mourning † And rent your hartes and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God because he is benigne and merciful patient and of much mercie readie to be gracious vpon the malice † Who knoweth if he wil conuert and forgeue and leaue after him benediction sacrifice and libament to the Lord your God † Sound ye with the trumpet in Sion sanctifie a fast cal an assemblie † gather together the people sanctifie the Church assemble the ancients gather together the litle ones and them that sucke the breastes let the bridegrome goe forth of his chamber and the bride out of her bride chamber † Betwen the porch and the altar the priests our Lords ministers shal weepe and shal say Spare ô Lord spare thy people and geue not thine inheritance into reproch that the nations haue dominion ouer them Why say they in the peoples Where is their God † Our Lord hath bene zelous to his land
and hath spared his people † And our Lord answered and sayd to his people Behold I wil send you corne and wine and oyle and you shal be replenished with them and I wil geue you no more to be a reproch in the Gentils † And him that is from the North I wil make far from you and I wil expel him into a land vnpassable desert his face against the east sea and his extreme part to the last sea his stinke shal ascend his rotennes shal ascend because he hath done proudly † Feare not ô land reioyce be glad because our Lord hath magnified to doe † Feare not ye beastes of the region because the beautiful thinges of the desert are sprung because the tree hath brought his fruite the figtree and the vine haue geuen their vigour † And ye children of Sion reioyce and be ioyful in the Lord your God because he hath geuen you a doctor of iustice and he wil make the early and the late showre to descend to you as in the beginning † And the floores shal be filled with wheare and the presses shal ouerflow with wine and oyle † And I wil render you the yeares which the locust the bruke and the blast and the eruke hath eaten my great strength which I haue sent vpon you † And you shal eate eating and shal be filled and you shal praise the name of the Lord your God that hath done meruels with you and my people shal not be confounded for euer † And you shal know that I am in the middes of Israel I the Lord your God and there is none besides and my people shal not be confounded for euer † And it shal be after this I wil powre out my spirit vpon al flesh and your sonnes your daughters shal prophecie your ancients shal dreame dreames and your yong men shal see visions † Yea and vpon my seruants and handmayds in those dayes I wil powre out my spirit † And I wil geue wonders in heauen and in earth bloud and fire and vapour of smoke † The sunne shal be turned into darkenes and the moone into bloud before the great and horrible day of the Lord doth come † And it shal be euerie one that shal inuocate the name of the Lord shal be saued because in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be saluation as our Lord hath sayd and in the residew whom our Lord shal cal CHAP. III. After the conuersion of the Iewes to Christ 2. shortly foloweth the general Iudgement 3. where euerie one according to their desertes shal receiue expressed here in parabolical speach 7. 19. the wicked euerlasting paine 18. 20. and the blessed eternal ioy BECAVSE loe in those dayes and in that time when I shal conuert the captiuitie of Iuda and Ierusalem † I wil gather together al Nations wil lead them into the valley of Iosaphat and I wil plead with them there vpon my people and myne inheritance Israel whom they haue dispersed in the nations and haue diuided my land † And vpon my people they haue cast lot and boy they haue geuen to be a strumpet and wench they haue sould for wine that they might drinke † But what is to me and to you ô Tyre and Sidon and al the border of the Palesthines what wil you render me reuenge and if you doe reuenge against me I wil soone render you quickly recompence vpon your head † For my siluer and my gold you haue taken and my desiderable thinges and most beautiful you haue caried into your temples † And the children of Ierusalem you haue sold to the children of the Greekes that you might make them far of from their coasts † Behold I wil rayse them vp out of the place wherin you haue sold them and I wil turne your retribution vpon your owne head † And I wil sel your sonnes your daughters into the handes of the children of Iuda and they shal sel them to the Sabaeans a nation far of because our Lord hath spoken † Proclaime ye this in the Gentils sanctifie battel rayse vp the strong let them come let al the men of warre come vp † Cut your ploughes into swordes and your spades into speares Let the weake say That I am strong † Breake out and come al ye nations from round about and be gathered together there wil our Lord make al thy strong ones to be slaine † Let them arise and let the Gentils ascend into the valley of Iosaphat because there I wil sit to iudge al nations round about † Put in the sithes because the haruest is ripe come and descend because the presse is ful the presses runne ouer because their malice is multiplied † Peoples people 's in the valley of d concision because the day of our Lord is nigh in the valley of concision † The sunne and the moone are darkened and the starres haue withdrawen their shining † And our Lord wil roare out of Sion and out of Ierusalem he wil geue his voice and the heauens the earth shal be moued and our Lord the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel † And you shal know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion my holy mount and Ierusalem shal be holie strangers shal passe through it no more † And it shal be in that day the mountaines shal distil sweetnes and the hilles shal flow with milke and through al the riuers of Iuda shal runne waters a fountaine shal issue out of the house of the Lord and shal water the torrent of thornes † Aegypt shal be into desolation Idumea into a desert of perdition for that they haue done vniustly against the children of Iuda and haue shed innocent bloud in their land † And Iewrie shal be inhabited for euer and Ierusalem vnto generation and generation † And I wil clense their bloud which I had not clensed and the Lord wil dwel in Sion THE PROPHECIE OF AMOS AMOS a heardesman of Thecua in the tribe of Zabulon was indued with the spirite of prophecie about the same time with Osee and Ioel in the reigne of Ozias king of Iuda and of Ieroboam sonne of Ioas king of Israel in Metaphores and other obscure speaches agreable to his pastoral education but profound in sense prophecieth especially against the kingdom of Israel and diuers Gentiles partly also against Iuda foreshewing their afflictions for their sinnes but at last the vocation of al Nations to Christ with abundance of spiritual graces in his Church CHAP. I. In the reigne of Iozias in Iuda and of Ieroboam in Israel this prophet Amos 3. threatneth Damascus 6. Gaza 8. Azotus and other Philistians 9. Tyre 11. Idumea 13. and Ammon for their obstinacie in sinne abusing his long patience THE wordes of Amos who was among the pastours of Thecua Which he saw vpon
Israel in the dayes of Ozias the king of Iuda and in the dayes af Iereboam the sonne of Ioas the king of Israel two yeares before the earthquake † And he sayd Our Lord wil roare out of Sion and out of Ierusalem he wil geue his voice the beautiful places of the pastours haue mourned and the toppe of Carmel is withered † Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Damascus and vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue threshed Galaad with yron waynes † And I wil send fyre into the house of Azael and it shal deuoure the houses of Benadad † And I wil breake the barre of Damascus and I wil destroy the inhabitant out of the idol and him that holdeth the scepter out of the house of pleasure and the people of Syria shal be transported to Cyrene saith our Lord. † Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Gaza vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue transported a perfect captiuitie to shut it vp in Idumea † And I wil send ●yre on the wal of Gaza and it shal deuoure the houses therof † And I wil destroy the inhabitant out of Azotus and him that holdeth the scepter out of Ascalon and I wil turne my hand vpon Accaron and the rest of the Philisthims shal perish sayth our Lord God † Thus saith our Lord Vpon the three wickednesses of Tyre and vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue shut vp a perfect captiuite in Idumea and haue not remembred the league of brethren † And I wil send fyre vpon the wal of Tyre it shal deuoure the houses therof † Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Edom and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath persecuted his brother with the sword and hath violated his mercie and hath held his furie longer and hath kept his indignation euen to the end † I wil send fyre into The man and it shal deuoure the houses of Bosra † Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of the children of Ammon and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath cut in sunder the wemen with childe of Galaad to dilate his limite † And I wil kindle a fyre in the wal of Rabba it shal deuoure the houses therof with howling in the day of battel and with a whirlewind in the day of commotion † And Melchom shal goe into captiuitie himself and his princes together sayth our Lord. CHAP. II. God also threatneth Moab 4. Iuda 6. and Israel 9. that for ingratitude 12. and other sinnes they shal be brought into captiuitie THVS sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Moab and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath burnt the bones of Idumea euen to ashes † And I wil send fyre into Moab and it shal deuoure the houses of Carioth and Moab shal dye in the sound in the noyse of the trumpet † and I wil destroy the iudge out of the middes of him and al his princes I wil kil with him saith our Lord. † Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Iuda vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath cast away the law of our Lord and not kept his commandments for their idols haue deceiued them after which their fathers went † And I wil send fire into Iuda and it shal deuoure the houses of Ierusalem † Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Israel and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath sold the iust for siluer and the poore for shoes † Which bruise the heades of the poore vpon the dust of the earth and decline the way of the humble and the sonne and his father haue gone to a young woman that they might violate my holie name † And vpon garments layd to pledge they did lye beside euerie altar the wine of the condemned they dranke in the house of their God † But I did cast out the Ammorrheit before their face whose height the height of Cedars he strong as an oke and I destroyed his fruite from aboue his rootes beneath † It is I that made you come vp out of the Land of Aegypt I ledde you in the desert fourtie yeares that you might possesse the Land of the Amorrheite † And I raysed vp of your sonnes to be prophets of your yongmen Nazareites is it not so ô children of Israel saith our Lord † And you dranke wine to the Nazareites and the prophets you commanded saying Prophecie not † Behold I wil screake vnder you as a wayne screaketh loden with hay † And flight shal perish from the swift and the valient shal not obteyne his strength and the strong shal not saue his life † And he that holdeth the bow shal not stand and the swift of his feete shal not be saued and the rider of the horse shal not saue his life † and the stoute of hart among the valients shal flee naked in that day sayth our Lord. CHAP. III. For their manifold sinnes al the twelue tribes shal be sore plaged 11. and made captiues HEARE the word that our Lord hath spoken vpon you ye children of Israel vpon al the kindred that I brought forth out of the Land of Aegypt saying † Onlie you haue I knowen of al the kindreds of the earth therfore wil I visite vpon you al your iniquities † Why shal two walke together vnles they be agreed † Wil the lion roare in the forrest vnles he haue a praye wil the lions whelpe geue voice out of his denne vnles he hath caught somewhat † wil the bird fal into the snare of the earth without the sowler Shal the snare be taken away from the earth before it hath taken somewhat † Shal the trumpet sound in the citie and wil not the people be afrayd Shal there be euil in the citie which our Lord hath not done † Because our Lord God wil not doe a word vnles he haue reueled his secret to his seruants the prophers † The lion shal roare who wil not feare Our Lord God hath spoken who shal not prophecie † Make it heard in the houses of Azotus and in the houses of the Land of Aegypt and say Gather ye together vpon the mountaines of Samaria and see the manie madnesses in the midddes therof and them that suffer calumnie in the inner parts therof † And they haue not knowne to doe right sayth our Lord treasuring vp iniquitie and robberies in their houses † Therfore thus sayth our Lord God The land shal be in tribulation compassed about and thy strength shal be plucked away from thee and thy houses shal be spoyled † Thus sayth our Lord As if a pastour should get out of the lions mouth two legges or the tippe of the eare so shal the children of Israel that dwel in Samaria be deliuered in the plague of
the bed and in the couche of Damascus † Heare ye and contest in the house of Iacob sayth our Lord the God of hosts † That in the day when I shal begin to visite the preuarications of Israel I wil visite vpon him and vpon the altars of Bethel and the hornes of the altar shal be cut of and shal fal to the ground † And I wil strike the winter house with the summer house and the houses of yuorie shal perish and manie houses shal be dissipated sayth our Lord. CHAP. IIII. The tenne tribes are particularly charged for oppressing the poore 2. therfore threatned with calamities 6. blamed for their obstinacie 12. neuertheles al are admonished to expect Christ HEARE this word ye fatte kine which are in the mountaines of Samaria which doe calumnie to the needie and breake the poore which say to your lords Bring and we wil drinke † Our Lord God hath sworne by his holie that loe the dayes shal come vpon you and they shal lift you vp on poles and your remnant in pottes boyling hotte † And by the breaches you shal goe out one against an other you shal be cast forth into Armon saith our Lord. † Come ye to Bethel and doe impiousely to Galgal and multiplie preuarication and offer in the morning your victimes three dayes your tithes † And sacrifice ye prayse of the leauened and cal voluntarie oblations and proclaime it for so would you ô children of Israel sayth our Lord God † Wherupon I also haue geuen you dulnes of the teeth in al your cities and lacke of bread in al your places and you haue nor returned to me sayth our Lord. † I also haue stayed the rayne from you when there remayned yet three monethes vnto haruest and I rayned vpon one citie and vpon an other citie I rayned not one part was rayned vpon and the part whereupon I rayned not withered † And two and three cities came to one citie to drinke water were not filled you returned not to me saith our Lord. † I stroke you with a burning winde with blasting the multitude of your gardens and al your vineyards your oliue groues figgroues the eruke hath eaten and you returned not to me sayth our Lord. † I sent death vpon you in the way of Aegypt I stroke your yongmen with the sword euen to the captiuitie of your horses and I made the putrefaction of your campe to come vp into your nostherels and you returned not to me sayth our Lord. † I subuerted you as God subuerted Sodom and Gomorth and you were made as a fyrebrand hastely caught from the burning and you returned not to me sayth our Lord. † Wherfore these thinges wil I doe to thee Israel but after I shal doe these thinges to thee be prepared to meete thy God ô Israel † Because loe he that formeth the mountaines and createth the wind and declareth his word to man maketh the morning mist and walketh vpon the high places of the earth our Lord the God of host is his name CHAP. V. Notwithstanding great miseries threatned against the tenne tribes 4. yet if they wil repent they shal escape 7. otherwise they shal fal into captiuitie 14. and therfore they are admonished to returne to God 16. but being obstinate 21. no sacrifice can appeaze Gods wrath HEARE ye this word that I lift vpon you a lamentation The house of Israel is fallen and it shal not adde to rise againe † The virgine of Israel is cast forth vpon her land there is none to rayse her vp † Because thus sayth our Lord God The citie out of which came forth a thousand there shal be left in it an hundred and out of which there came an hundred there shal be left in it tenne in the house of Israel † Because thus sayth our Lord to the house of Israel Seeke ye me and you shal liue † And seeke not Bethel and into Galgal enter not and into Bersabee you shal not passe because Galgal shal be led captiue and Bethel shal be vnprofitable † Seke ye our Lord and liue lest perhaps the house of Ioseph be burnt as fyre and it shal deuoure and there shal be none to quench Bethel † You that turne iudgement into wormewod and leaue of iustice in the land † Him that maketh Arcturus and Orion and that turneth darknes into morning and that changeth day into night that calleth the waters of the sea and powreth them out vpon the face of the earth The Lord is his name † He that seeketh destruction vpon the strong and bringeth depopulation vpon the mightie † They haue hated him that rebuketh in the gate and him that speaketh perfectly they haue abhorred † Therfore because you spoiled the poore and tooke the chosen praye from him you shal build houses with square stone and shal not dwel in them you shal plant most amiable vineyards and shal not drinke the wine of them † Because I haue knowen manie your wickednesses and your strong sinnes enemies of the iust taking bribe and oppressing the poore in the gate † Therfore shal the wise at that time hold his peace because it is an euil time † Seeke ye good and not euil that you may liue and our Lord the God of hosts wil be with you as you haue sayd † Hate ye euil and loue good and establish iudgement in the gate if perhaps our Lord the God of hosts may haue mercie on the remnant of Ioseph † Therfore thus sayth our Lord the God of hosts the Dominatour in al streates lamentation and in al places that are without shal be sayd wo wo and they shal cal the husbandman to mourning and to lamentation them that know to lament † And in al vineyardes there shal be lamentation because I wil passe through in the middes of thee sayth our Lord. † Wo vnto them that desyre the day of our Lord to what purpose the same vnto you This day of our Lord darkenes and not light † As if a man should flee from the face of a lion a beare should mete him enter into the house leane with his hand vpon the wal and a serpent should bite him † Why is not the day of our Lord darkenes and not light and mist and no shining therein † I haue hated and haue reiected your festiuities and I wil not take the odour of your assemblies † And if you shal offer vnto me holocausts and your gifts I wil not receiue them and the vowes of your far thinges I wil not respect † Take away from me the tumult of thy songes and the canticles of thy harpe I wil not heare † And iudgement shal be reueled as water and iustice as a mightie torrent † Why did you offer hostes and sacrifice to me in the desert fourtie yeares ô house of Israel † And you caried a tabernacle for your Moloch
and the image of your idols the starre of your God which you made to your selues † And I wil make you remoue beyond Damascus saith our Lord the God of hostes is his name CHAP. VI. For the auarice and luxurie of both kingdomes 7. they shal be caried into captiuitie VVO TO you that are rich in Sion and haue confidence in the mountaine of Samaria ye great men heads of the peoples going stately into the house of Israel † Passe ye into Chalane and see goe ye thence into Emath the great and descend into Geth of the Palestines and to al the best kingdoms of these if their border be larger then your border † You that are seperated vnto the euil day and approch to the throne of iniquitie † You that sleepe in beds of iuorie and play the wantons in your couches that eate the lambe out of the flocke and calues out of the middes of the heard † You that sing to the voice of the psalter as Dauid they haue thought themselues to haue the instruments of song † That drinke wine in phials and are annoynted with the best oyntment and they suffered nothing vpon the contrition of Ioseph † Wherfore now they shal goe in the head of them that goe in transmigration and the faction of the wantons shal be taken away † The Lord God hath sworne by his soule saith our Lord the God of hostes I detest the pride of Iacob and I hate his houses and I wil deliuer vp the citie with the inhabitants therof † And if there shal be left tenne men in one house they also shal dye † And his kinsman shal take him vp and shal burne him that he may carie the bones out of the house and he shal say to him that is in the inner parts of the house Is there yet with thee † And he shal answer There is an end And he shal say to him Hold thy peace remember not the name of our Lord. † Because loe our Lord hath commanded and he wil strike the greater house with ruins and the lesser house with clefts † Why can horses runne vpon rockes or can there be ploughing with buffles because you haue turned iudgement into bitternes and the fruite of iustice into worme wood † Which reioyce in thinges of naught which say Why haue not we taken vnto vs hornes in our owne strength † For behold I wil rayse vp from you ô house of Israel saith our Lord the God of hostes a nation and they shal destroy you from the entrance of Emath euen to the torrent of the desert CHAP. VII In three visions manie miseries are reueled which shal come vpon both the kingdomes 10. A false priest of Bethel accusing the prophet of sedition and endeuouring to chase him away 14. is by him forewarned of miseries to his familie and death to himself THESE thinges hath our Lord God shewed to me and loe the former of the locust in the beginning of thinges that spring of the later rayne and behold the later rayne after the kings mowing † And it came to passe after it had finished to eate the grasse of the land I sayd O Lord God be propicious I beseech thee who shal rayse vp Iacob because he is a litle one † Our Lord hath had pitie vpon this It shal not be sayth our Lord. † These thinges hath our Lord God called iudgement vnto c fyre and it deuoured the great depth and it did eate a part together † And I sayd Lord God be quiet I besech thee who shal rayse vp Iacob because he is a litle one † Our Lord had pitie vpon this Yea this also shal not be sayth our Lord God † These thinges hath our Lord shewed to me and loe our Lord standing vpon a wal plastered and in his hand a masons truel † And our Lord sayd to me What seest thou Amos And I sayd A masons truel And our Lord sayd Behold I wil lay downe the truel in the middes of my people Israel I wil adde no more to plaster it ouer † And the excelses of the idol shal be throwen dowen and the sancrifications of Israel shal be made desolate and I wil rise vpon the house of Ieroboam with the sword † And Amasias the priest of Bethel sent to Ieroboam the king of Israel saying Amos hath rebelled against thee in the middes of the house of Israel the land wil not be able to susteyne al his wordes † For thus saith Amos Ieroboam shal dye by the sword and Israel shal depart captiue out of their land † And Amasias sayd to Amos Thou that seest goe flee into the land of Iuda eate bread there and thou shalt prophecie there † And in Bethel thou shalt adde no more to prophecie because it is the sanctification of the king and it is the house of the kingdom † And Amos answered and sayd to Amasias I am not a prophete and I am not the sonne of a prophet but an heardsman am I plucking sycomores † And our Lord tooke me when I folowed the flocke and our Lord sayd to me Goe prophecie to my people Israel † And now heare the word of our Lord Thou sayest Thou shalt not prophecie vpon Israel and thou shalt not distil vpon the house of the idol † Therfore thus saith our Lord Thy wife shal fornicate in the citie and thy sonnes and thy daughters shal fal by the sword thy ground shal be measured with a corde and thou shalt dye in a polluted land and Israel shal depart captiue out of their land CHAP. VIII In a vision of an apple hooke the captiuitie of the tenne tribes is againe foreshewed 4. with reprehension of their auarice and oppression of the poore 7. for which they shal fal into great miseries THESE thinges hath our Lord shewed to me and behold an apple hooke † And he sayd What seest thou Amos And I sayd An apple hooke And our Lord sayd to me The end cometh vpon my people Israel I wil adde no more to passe them † And the henges of the temple shal creake in that day saith our Lord God manie shal dye in euerie place shal silence be cast † Heare this you that tread downe the poore make the needie of the land to fayle † saying When wil the moneth passe and we shal sel wares and the Sabbath and we open the corne that we may diminish the measure and increase the sicle and conuey in deceitful balances † that we may for siluer possesse the needie and the poore for shoes and may sel the refuse of the corne † Our Lord hath sworne agaynst the pride of Iacob If I shal forget euen to the end al their workes † Why shal not the land be moued vpon this and euerie inhabitant therof mourne and rise vp as a riuer altogether and be cast out and runne downe to the riuer of Aegypt † And
your beds in the morning light they doe it because their hand is against God † And they haue couered fildes and violently taken and houses forcibly taken away and oppressed the man and his house the man and his inheritance † Therfore thus saith our Lord Behold I purpose euil vpon this familie whence you shal not take away your neckes and you shal not walke prowd because it is a very euil time † In that day a parable shal be taken vp vpon you and a songue shal be sung with sweetnes of them that say With depopulation we are wasted part of my people is changed how shal he depart from me wheras he returneth that wil diuide our regions † For this cause thou shalt haue none casting the cord of lot in the assemblie of our Lord. † Speake ye not speaking It shal not droppe vpon these confusion shal not apprehend them † The house of Iacob saith Way is the spirit of our Lord abridged or are his cogitations such Are not my wordes good with him that walketh rightly † And on the contrarie my people is risen vp as an aduersarie from aboue the cote you haue taken away the cloke them that passed simply you turned into battel † The wemen of my people you haue cast out of the house of their delicacies from their litle ones you haue taken my praise for euer † Arise and goe because you haue no rest here For the vncleannes therof it shal be corrupted with a sore putrefaction † Would God I were not a man hauing the spirit and that I did rather speake a lie I wil distil to thee into wine and into drunkennes and it shal be this people vpon whom it is distilled † Gathering I wil gather thee wholly together ô Iacob I wil bring together the remnant of Israel into one I wil put them together as a flocke in the fold as cattel in the middes of sheepcotes they shal make a tumult by reason of the multitude of men † For he shal ascend opening the way before them they shal diuide and passe through the gate and shal enter by it and their king shal passe before them and our Lord in the head of them CHAP. III. For the sinnes of the rich opressing the poore 5. of falfe prophets flatering for lucre 9. and of Iudges peruerting iustice 12. Ierusalem and the temple shal be destroyed AND I sayd Heare ye princes of Iacob ye dukes of the house of Israel Why is it not your part to know iudgement † which hate good and loue euil which violently take away their skinnes from them and their flesh from their bones † Which haue eaten the flesh of my people and haue stead their skinne from them and haue broken and cut their bones as in a kettle as it were flesh in the middes of a potte shal they crie to our Lord and he wil not heare them and he wil hide his face from them at that time as they haue done wickedly in their inuentions † Thus sayth our Lord vpon the prophets that seduce my people that bite with their teeth nnd preach peace and if a man geue not something in their mouth they sanctifie battel vpon him † Therfore there shal be nigt to you for vision and darkenes to you for diuination and the sunne shal goe downe vpon the prophets the day shal be darkened ouer them † And they shal be confounded that see visions and the diuiners shal be confounded and al shal couer their faces because there is no answer of God † But yet I am replenished with the strenght of the spirit of our Lord with iudgement and power to declare vnto Iacob his wickednes and to Israel his sinne † Heare this ye princes of the house of Iacob and ye iudges of the house of Israel which abhorre iudgement peruert al right thinges † Which build Sion in bloud and Ierusalem in iniquitie † Her princes iudged for gifts and her priests taught for wages and her prophets diuined for money they rested vpon our Lord saying Why is not our Lord in the middes of vs euils shal not come vpon vs. † For this because of you Sion shal be ploughed as a filde and Ierusalem shal be as an heape of stones and the mount of the temple as the high places of forests CHAP. IIII. Manie Gentiles shal beleue in Christ 6. and lastly the multitude of Iewes 8. In the meane time the two tribes shal be caried into captiuitie and be deliuered againe AND it shal be In the later end of dayes there shal be the mount of the house of our Lord prepared in the toppe of mountaines and high about the hilles and peoples shal flow to it † And manie nations shal hasten shal say Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of our Lord to the house of the God of Iacob he wil teach vs of his wayes and we shal goe in this pathes because out of Sion shal the law goe forth and the word of our Lord out of Ierusalem † And he shal iudge betwen manie peoples and he shal rebuke strong nations vnto a far of and they shal cut their swordes into culters and their speares into spades nation shal not take sword against nation and they shal no more learne to make battel † And euerie man shal sitte vnder his vine vnder his figtree and there shal be none to make them afrayd because the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it † Because al peoples wil walke euerie one in the name of his God but we shal walke in the name of the Lord our God for euer and euer † In that day saith our Lord I wil gather her that halteth and her that I had cast out I wil gather vp her whom I had afflicted † And I wil make her that halted into a remnant and her that had laboured into a mightie nation and our Lord wil reigne ouer them in mount Sion from this time now and for euer † And thou the towre of flocke clowdie of the daughter of Sion shal come to thee and the first powre shal come the kingdom to the daughter of Ierusalem † Now why art thou drawne together with pensifnes why is there not a king to thee or is thy counselor perished because sorow hath apprehended thee as a woman in trauel † Sorow thou labour ô daughter of Sion as a woman in trauel because now shalt thou goe out of the citie and shalt dwel in the countrie and shalt come euen to Babylon there thou shalt be deliuered there our Lord wil redeme thee out of the hand of thine enemies † And now manie nations are gathered together vpon thee which say Let her be stoned and let our eye looke vpon Sion † But they haue not knowne the cogitations of our Lord and haue not vnderstood his counsel
singing in the window the rauen on the vpper post because I wil attenuate her strength † This is the glorious citie dwelling in confidence that sayd in her hart I am and beside me there is none other els how is she become as a desert the couche for beastes euerie one that passeth by her shal hisse and wag his hand CHAP. III. Ierusalem for reiecting Gods admonitions shal be destroyed 7. Christ being risen from death the Iewes persecuting the faithful shal be reiected miserably destroyed 9. and the Gentils called 11. So his Church shal floorish 13. and at last the Iewes shal be conuerted VVO TO thee thou prouoking and redemed citie the doue † She hath not heard the voice and she hath not receiued discipline she hath not trusted in our Lord to her God she hath not approched † Her princes in the middes of her as lions roarnig her iudges wolues in the euening left nothing for the morning † Her prophets madde men vnfaythful her priests haue polluted the holie they haue done vniustly agaynst the law † Our iust Lord in the middes therof wil not doe iniquitie in the morning in the morning he wil geue his iudgement into light and it shal not be hid but the wicked man hath not knowen the confusion † I haue destroyed the Gentils their corners are dissipated I haue made their wayes desert whiles there is none that passeth by their cities are desolate not a man remayning nor any inhabiter † I sayd Neuertheles thou shalt feare me thou shalt receiue discipline and her habitation shal not perish for al thinges wherin I haue visited her but yet rysing early they corrupted al their cagitations ● Wherfore expect me sayth our Lord in the day of my resurrection til hereafter because my iudgement to assemble the Gentils and to gather kingdomes to powre vpon them mine indignation al the wrath of my furie for in the fyre of my ielousie shal al the earth be deuoured † Because c then wil I restore to the peoples a chosen lippe that al may inuocate in the name of the Lord may serue him with one shoulder † Beyond the riuers of Aethiopia thence shal my suppliants the children of my dispersed bring me a gift † In that day thou shalt not be confounded vpon al thine inuentions wherin thou hast preuaricated against me because then wil I take away out of the middes of thee the loftie speakers of thy pride thou shalt adde no more to be exalted in my holie mount † And I wil leaue in the middes of thee a people poore and needie they shal hope in the name of our Lord. † The remnāt of Israel shal not doe iniquitie neyther shal they speake leasing and deceitful tongue shal not be found in their mouth because they shal feede and shal lie downe and there shal be none to make them afrayd † Prayse ô daughter of Sion make iubilation Israel be glad reioyce in al thy hart ô daughter of Ierusalem † Our Lord hath taken away thy iudgement he hath turned away thine enemies the king of Israel our Lord in the middes of thee thou shalt feare euil no more † In that day it shal be sayd to Ierusalem Feare not to Sion let not thy handes be dissolued † Our Lord thy God in the middes of thee strong he wil saue he wil reioyce vpon thee in gladnes he wil be silent in his loue he wil be ioyful vpon thee in prayse † The triflers that were departed from thee I wil gather together because they were of thee that thou mayst no more haue reproch for them † Behold I wil kil al that haue afflicted thee at that time and I wil saue the halt her that was cast out I wil gather and I wil make them into prayse and into name in al the land of their confusion † In that time when I wil bring you and in the time that I wil gather you for I wil geue you into a name and into prayse to al the people of the earth when I shal conuert your captiuitie before your eyes saith our Lord. THE PROPHECIE OF AGGEVS AGGEVS prophecying in the second yeare of Darius Histaspis king of Persians that is in the 18. yeare after the relaxation from captiuitie of Babylon exhorteth to reedifie the Temple which had bene begune and intermitted promising much prosperitie after the building therof and finally the coming of Christ desired of al nations who by his presence wil glorifie this new temple more then the former built by Salomon and especially prophecieth the glorie of his Catholique Church which shal much excel the Church of the old Testament CHAP. I. The Iewes building to themselues excellent houses are iustly reprehended for not building the Temple of God 10. VVhich is the cause of the barrennes sicknes and other euils 12. VVherupon they vndertake the holie worke IN THE second yeare of Darius the king the sixth moneth in the first day of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet to Zorobabel the sōne of Salathiel duke of Iuda to b Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest saing † Thus sayth the Lord of hostes saying This people sayth The time is not yet come of building the house of our Lord. † And the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophete saying † Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house desert † And now thus sayth the Lord of hostes Set your hartes vpon your wayes † You haue sowed much and brought in litle you haue eaten and haue not bene filled you haue drunke and haue not bene inebriated you haue couered your selues haue not bene warmed and he that hath gathered the wages put them into a broken bag † Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Set your harts vpon your wayes † go vp into the mountayne carie timber and build the house and it shal be acceptable to me and I shal be glorified sayth our Lord. † You haue looked for more and behold it became lesse and you brought it into the house and I puft at it for what cause sayth the Lord of hosts because my house is desert and you hasten euerie man into his owne house † For this cause were the heauens stayed ouer you that they gaue no dew and the earth was prohibited that it yelded not her spring † and I called a drought vpon the earth vpon the mountaines and vpon the wheate and vpon the wine and vpon the oile and what thinges soeuer the ground brought forth vpon men vpon beastes vpon al the labour of the handes † And Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the high priest al the remnant of the people heard the voice of their God the wordes of Aggeus the prophet as our Lord their
God sent him to them the people feared at the face of our Lord. † And Aggeus the messenger of our Lord of the messengers of our Lord spake saying to the people I am with you sayth our Lord. † And our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel duke of Iuda and the spirit of Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest and the spirit of the rest of al the people and they went in and did the worke in the house of the Lord of hostes their God CHAP. II. They are encoreged to procede in building the temple 6. with promise that Christ by his personal presence wil bring more glorie to this then was in the former temple 11. Their former slacknes in this worke was the cause of their wantes 19. and now they shal haue abundance IN the foure and twenteth day of the moneth in the sixth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king † In the seuenth moneth the one and twentith of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet saying † Speake to Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel the duke of Iuda to Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grand priest and to the rest of the people saying † Who among you is left that saw this house in the first glorie therof what do you see this same now Why is it not so as if it were not in your eyes † And now take courege Zorobabel saith our Lord and take courege Iesus the sonne of Iosedec grand priest and take courege al ye people of the land saith the Lord of hostes and doe because I am with you sayth the Lord of hosts † the word that I did couenant with you when you came out of the Land of Aegypt and my spirit shal be in the middes of you feare not † Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet there is one litle while and I wil moue the heauen the earth and the sea and the drie land † And I wil moue al nations AND THE DESIRED OF AL NATIONS SHAL COME and I wil fil this house with glorie sayth the Lord of hosts † Mine is the siluer and mine is the gold sayth the Lord of hostes † “ Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first sayth the Lord of hosts and in this place wil I geue peace sayth the Lord of hosts † In the foure and twentith of the ninth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Aggeus the prophet saying † Thus saith the Lord of hosts Aske the priests the law saying † If a man take sanctified flesh in the skirt of his garment and touch with the skirt therof bread or broth or wine or oile or any meate shal it be sanctified And the priests answering said No. † And Aggeus sayd If one polluted on a soule touch any of al these shal he be contaminated And the priests answered and sayd he shal be contaminated † And Aggeus answered and sayd So this people and so this nation before my face sayth our Lord and so al the worke of their handes al that they haue offered there shal be contaminated † And now set your hartes from this day and vpward before there was stone layd vpon stone in the temple of our Lord. † When you went to an heape of twentie bushels they became ten and entered into the presse to presse out fiftie flagons they became twentie † I stroke you with the burning winde and with the blast and with haile al the workes of your handes and there was none among you that returned to me saith our Lord. † Set your hartes from this day and hence forward from the foure and twenteth day of the ninth moneth from the day that the fundations of the temple of our Lord were layd lay it vpon your hartes † Is there the seede now abreward and as yet the wine and the figtree and the pomegranate and the oliue tree hath not florished from this day I wil blesse † And the word of our Lord was made the second time to Aggeus in the foure and twentith of the moneth saying † Speake to Zorobabel the duke of Iuda saying I wil moue the heauen and also the earth † And I wil ouerthrow the throne of kingdoms wil destroy the strength of the kingdom of the Gentils and I wil ouerthrow the chariote and the rider therof and the horses shal come downe and the riders of them euerie one by the sword of his brother † In that day sayth the Lord of hosts I wil take thee ô Zorobabel sonne of Salathiel my seruant saith our Lord and wil put thee as a signet because thee haue I chosen sayth the Lord of hosts ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 10. Great shal be the glorie VVhen according to the prophets exhortation the temple vvas built againe Esdras ch 3. v 12 vvriteth that such ancient men as had sene the former lamented because this nevv one vvas not so excellent as the former had bene vvhich is also clere by other places of holie scripture For amongst other differences Salomons temple had in height and in breadth an hundred and twentie cubites 2 Paral. 3. v. 4. this nevv temple had but sixtie cubites 1 Esd 6. v. 3. Likevvise balomons temple vvas built of stones hevved and perfectly polished 3. Reg 6. v. 7. vvhich vvere also couered on the innerside vvith seeling vvorke of ceder vvood v. 18. This nevv temple vvas built of rugh and vnpolished stones 1. Esd 5. v. 8 As for the same temple long after enlarged and adorned by Herod it continued not long in that state the chiefest glorie therof vvas by our Sauiours presence therin vvhen he vvas presented by his mother and ioyfully receiued into the armes of Simeon and often preached there And therfore S. Augustin proueth li. 18. c. 45. ciuit that the prophet here foreshevveth the glorie of Christs mystical temple faithful Christian soules of al nations in whom God dwelleth by grace of the nevv Testament farre more glorious in liuing stones then that temple vvhich king Salomon built or that vvhich vvas restored after the captiuitie THE PROPHECIE OF ZACHARIAS ZACHARIAS the sonne of Barachias and nephew of Addo beginning two monethes after Aggeus exhorteth also to reedifie the Temple and sheweth by diuers visions that the Church shal floorish partly in that time of the old Synagog but much more after Christs coming whos 's first and chiefe promulgators of his Gospel shal be of the Iewish nation but the farre greatter number shal be of the Gentiles the Iewes for their obstinacie reiected Yet they also in the end shal returne to Christ CHAP. I. The prophet exhorteth the people to conuert to God and not to imitate the euil examples of their fathers 7. by a vision of an horseman and diuers
colored horses he prophecieth bitter times 18. confirming the same by an other vision of foure hornes IN THE eight moneth in the second yeare of king Darius the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophet saying Our Lord hath bene wrath vpon your fathers with wrath † And thou shalt say to them Thus saith the Lord of hosts Conuert to me sayth the Lord of hosts and I wil conuert to you sayth the Lord of hosts † Be not as your fathers to whom the former prophets cried saying Thus saith the Lord of hosts Conuert from your euil wayes from your most wicked thoughts and they heard not neither attended to me sayth our Lord. † Your fathers where are they and the prophets shal they liue for euer † But yet my wordes mine ordinances which I gaue in commandment to my seruants the prophets did they not take hold of your fathers and they conuerted sayd As the Lord of hosts thought to do to vs according to our wayes according to our inuentions he hath done to vs. † In the foure twentith day of the eleuenth moneth Sabath in the second yeare of Darius the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophet saying † I saw by night and behold a man mounting vpon a red horse he stood among the myrtletrees that were in the botome and after him horses red speckled and white † And I sayd What are these my Lord and the Angel that spake in me sayd to me I wil shew thee what these thinges are † And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered sayd These are they whom our Lord sent to walke through the earth † And they answered to the Angel of our Lord which stood among the mirtle trees sayd We haue walked through the earth and loe al the earth is inhabited and at rest † And the Angel of our Lord answered and sayd ô Lord of hosts how long wilt thou not haue mercie on Ierusalem and on the cities of Iuda with which thou hast bene angrie this now is c the seuentith yeare † And our Lord answered the Angel that spake in me good wordes comfortable wordes † And the Angel that spake in me sayd to me Crie saying Thus sayth the Lord of hosts I haue bene zelous for Ierusalem and Sion with great zele † And with great anger am I angrie vpon the welthie nations because I was angrie a litle but they helped toward the euil † Therfore thus saith our Lord I wil returne to Ierusalem in mercies my house shal be built in it saith the Lord of hosts the plumme line shal be stretched forth vpon Ierusalem † As yet crie thou saying Thus saith the Lord of hosts As yet shal my cities flow with good thinges and the Lord wil yet comfort Sion and he wil yet choose Ierusalem † And I lifted vp mine eyes and saw and behold foure hornes † And I sayd to the Angel that spake in me What are these And he sayd to me These are the hornes that haue scattered Iuda and Israel and Ierusalem † And our Lord shewed me foure artificers † And I sayd What come these to doe Who spake saying These are the hornes that scattered Iuda euerie man a part none of them lifted his head and these are come to fray them to cast downe the hornes of the nations that haue lifted the horne vpon the land of Iuda to scatter it CHAP. II. Vnder the name of Ierusalem he prophecieth the progresse of the Church of Christ 6. by the conuersion of some Iewes 8. and manie Gentiles AND I lifted vp mine eyes and saw and loe a man and in his hand a corde of measurers † And I sayd Whither goest thou And he sayd to me To measure Ierusalem and to see how great the breadth therof is and how great the length therof † And behold the Angel that spake in me came forth and an other Angel went out to meete him † And he sayd to him Runne speake to this yongman saying Without wal shal Ierusalem be inhabited for the multitude of men and of beasts in the middes therof † And I wil be to it sayth our Lord a wal of fire round about and I wil be in glorie in the middes therof † O b flee ye out of the land of the North saith our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you sayth our Lord. † O c Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon † because thus sayth the Lord of hosts After glorie he sent me to the nations that haue spoiled you for he that shal touch you toucheth the apple of myne eye † because loe I lift vp my hand vpon them and they shal be a praye to those that serued them and you shal know that the Lord of hosts sent me † Prayse and reioyce ô daughter of Sion because loe I come and wil dwel in the middes of thee sayth our Lord. † And manie nations shal be ioyned to our Lord in that day and they shal be my people and I wil dwel in the middes of thee and thou shal know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee † And our Lord wil possesse Iuda his portion in the sanctified land and he wil yet choose Ierusalem † Let al flesh be silent at the presence of our Lord because he is risen vp out of his holie habitation CHAP. III. In a vision the diuel appeareth accusing the hiegh Priest 4. He is clensed from his sinnes 8. Christ is promised and great fruite of his passion AND our Lord shewed me Iesus the grand priest standing before the Angel of our Lord and Satan stood on his right hand to be his aduersarie † And our Lord sayd to Satan The Lord geue rebuke on thee Satan and the Lord that chose Ierusalem geue rebuke on thee Why is not this a firebrand taken out of the fire † And Iesus was clothed with filthie garments and he stood before the face of the Angel † Who answered and sayd to them that stood before him saying Take away the filthie garments from him And he sayd to him Behold I haue taken away thine iniquitie and haue clothed thee with change of garments † And he said Put a cleane mitre vpon his head they put a cleane mitre vpon his head and clothed him with garments and the Angel of our Lord stood † And the Angel of our Lord contested Iesus saying † Thus saith the Lord of hosts If you wil walke in my wayes and keepe my watch thou also shalt iudge my house and shalt keepe my courts and I wil geue thee walkers of them that now assist here † Heare ô Iesus thou grand priest thou and thy frendes that dwel before thee because they are portending men for behold
table of our Lord is contaminated and that which is layd therupon is contemptible with the fyre that deuoureth it † And you haue sayd Loe of labour and you puffed at it sayth the Lord of hosts and you brought in of robberies the lame the sicke and brought in a gift Why shal I receiue it of your hand sayth our Lord † Cursed is the deceitful that hath in his flocke a male and making a vow immolateth the feeble to our Lord because I am a great King sayth the Lord of hosts and my name is dreadful among the Gentils ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 10. I haue no vvil in you Manie Prophets as vve haue often noted did foreshevv the reiection of the Ievves and vocation of the Gentils but none more plainly then this here by vvhom God expresly sayth I haue no vvil in you and I vvil not receiue gift of your hand The reason is also explicated in this chapter because God most peculiarly louing them they vvere stil vngratful and disspised him committing sinnes vpon sinnes And therfore in their place he would bring in the Gentils and that not anie one or fevv nations but al from the rising of the sunne to the going downe therof should sovvner or later come into his Church 11. In euerie place there is sacrificing God not only changed and multiplied his people but also changed and bettered his Sacrifice For in place of sacrificing cattel birdes and other weake and poore creatures vvhich vvere not able to purge sinnes and vvere also polluted oftentimes by the sinnes of them that offered the same God here promiseth a most effectual pure excellent daylie Sacrifice to continevv perpetually in al places of his Church that can not be polluted VVhich accordingly our Blessed Redemer and Sauiour instituted of his ovvne bodie and bloud in the formes of bread and vvine As al ancient Fathers proue by this place amongst others So S. Iustinus Martyr teacheth in dialogo cum Triphone S Cyprian li. 4. ● 18. aduersus Iudaeos S. Damascen li 4. c. 14 de ●ide Orthodoxa S. Ierom S. Theodoret and S. Cyril in their commentaries vpon this place S. Augustin li 18 c. 35. de ciuit S. Chrysostom in Ps 95. and Orat. 2. contra Iudaeos shevving plainly and vrging the Ievves and al oppugners of this Catholique beleefe and doctrine that this prophecie is no otherwise fulfilled but in the daylie Sacrifice of the Church For that here is prophecied an other Sacrifice distinct and different from the Ievves sacrifices neither vvere sacrifices offered in al the vvorld neither could be ordinarily offered out of Ierusalem But of this most sacred Mysterie and particularly that it is here prophecied here is so much published by ancient and late vvriters that more nedeth not to be here added CHAP. II. Priestes are further reprehended because they discharged not wel their great office 10. Both they and others offended in marying strangers 14. They ought to loue and not lightly dismisse their wiues AND now to you this commandment ô ye priests † If you wil not heare and if you wil not set it vpon the hart to geue glorie to my name sayth the Lord of hosts I wil send vpon you pouertie wil curse your blessings and I wil curse them because you haue not set it vpon the hart † Behold I wil cast forth to you the arme and wil spinkle vpon your face the dung of your solemnities and it shal take you with it † And you shal know that I sent you this commandment that my couenant might be with Leui sayth the Lord of hosts † My couenant was with him of life and peace I gaue him feare and he feared me and at the face of my name he was afrayd † The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquitie was not found in his lippes in peace and in equitie he walked with me and turned away manie from iniquitie † For the lippes of the priest shal keepe knowlege and the law they shal require of his mouth because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts † But you haue departed out of the way and haue scandalized manie in the law you haue made voide the couenant of Leui sayth the Lord of hosts † For which cause I also haue made you contemtible and base to al peoples as you haue not kept my wayes and haue accepted face in the law † Why is there not one father of vs al hath not one God created vs why then doth euerie one of vs despise his brother violating the couenant of our fathers † Iuda hath transgressed and abomination was done in Israel and in Ierusalem because Iudas hath contaminated the sanctification of our Lord which he loued and hath had the daughter of a strange god † Our Lord wil destroy the man that hath done this the master the scholar out of the tabernacles of Iacob him that offereth gift to the Lord of hosts † And this agayne haue you done you couered the altar of the Lord with teares with weeping and howling so that I haue respect no more to sacrifice neither do I accept any placable thing at your hand † And you haue sayd For what cause because the Lord hath testified betwen thee and the wife of thy youth whom thou hast despised and she thy partaker and the wife of thy couenant † Did not one make and the residue of the spirit is his And what doth one seeke but the seede of God Keepe ye then your spirit and the wife of thy youth despise thou not † When thou shalt hate dismisse sayth our Lord the God of Israel but iniquitie shal couer his garment saith the Lord of hosts keepe ye your spirit and do not despise † You haue in your wordes made our Lord to labour and you sayd Wherein haue we made him to labou● In that you say Euerie one that doth euil is good in the sight of our Lord and such please him or certes where is the God of iudgement CHAP. III. A precurser shal come before Christ 3. The Priesthood and Sacrifice of the new law are pure 5. God who seeth al sinners wil punish them 10. but if they amend they shal receiue Gods benefites 13. Not euil men but the good please God BEHOLD I send myne Angel and he shal prepare the way before my face And forthwith shal come to his temple the Dominatour whom you seeke and the Angel of the testament whom you desire Behold he cometh sayth the Lord of hosts † and who shal be able to thinke the day of his aduent and who shal stand to see him For he as it were purging fyre as the herbe of fullers † and he shal sit purging and clensing the siluer and he shal purge the sonnes of Leui and wil streyne them as gold and as siluer and they shal be ●●fering sacrifices to
our Lord in iustice † And the sacrifice of Iuda and Ierusalem shal please our Lord as the dayes of the world and as the yeares of old † And I wil come to you in iudgement and wil be a swift witnes to sorcerers and aduouterers and to the periured and them that calumniate the hyre of the hyred man the widowes and pupils and oppresse the stranger nor haue feared me sayth the Lord of hosts † For I the Lord and I am not changed and ye sonnes of Iacob are not consumed † For from the dayes of your fathers you haue departed from mine ordinances and haue not kept them Returne to me and I wil returne to you sayth the Lord of hosts And you haue sayd Wherin shal we returne † Shal man fasten God because you do fasten me And you haue sayd Wherein do we fasten thee In tithes and in first fruites † And in penurie you are accursed and you your whole nation fasten me † Bring in al the tithe into the barne and let there be meare in my house and proue me vpon this sayth our Lord if I open not vnto you the fludgates of heauen and powre you out blessing euen to abundance † and I wil rebuke for you the deuourer and he shal not corrupt the fruite of your land neither shal the vine in the filde be barren sayth the Lord of hosts † And al Nations shal cal you blessed for you shal be a land worthie to be desired sayth the Lord of hosts † Your wordes haue bene forcible vpon me sayth the Lord. † And you sayd What haue we spoken against thee You haue sayd He is vayne that serueth God and what profite is it that we haue kept his precepts and that we haue walked sorowful before the Lord of host † Therfore now we cal the arrogant blessed for they that doe impietie are builded and they haue tempted God and are made safe † Then spake they that feared our Lord euerie one with his neighbour and our Lord attended and heard and a booke of monument was writen before him for them that feare our Lord and thinke on his name † And they shal be to me saith the Lord of hosts in the day that I doe to my peculiat and I wil spare them as a man spareth his sonne seruing him † And you shal conuert and shal see what is betwen the iust and the impious and betwen him that serueth God and serueth him not CHAP. IIII. In the terrible day of iudgement the wicked shal be condemned and the iust eternally rewarded 5. Before which time Elias shal returne and conuert the Iewes to Christ FOR behold the day shal come kindled as a furnace and al the proude and al that doe impietie shal be stubble and the day coming shal inflame them sayth the Lord of hosts which shal not leaue them roote and spring † And there shal rise to you that feare my name the Sunne of iustice and health in his winges and you shal goe forth and shal leape as calues of the heard † And you shal treade the impious when they shal be ashes vnder the sole of your feete in the day that I doe sayth the Lord of hosts † Remember ye the law of Moyses my seruant which I commanded him in Horeb to al Israel precepts iudgements † Behold I wil send you Elias the prophete before the day of our Lord come great and dreadful † And he shal conuert the hart of the fathers to the children the hart of the children to their fathers lest perhaps I come and strike the earth with anathema The end of the Prophetical Bookes THE BOOKES OF MACHABEES PERTEYNING TO THE HISTORICAL PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT The argument of the bookes of Machabees with other prooemial Annotations BEFORE we declare the contents the reader perhaps wil require to know why they are called the Bookes of MACHABEES how manie they be who writ them in what language especially whether al or anie or which of them are Canonical Scripture For satisfaction of al which demandes distinguishing betwen certaine and vncertaine we shal briefly shew that which semeth more probable in the doubtful pointes and the assured certaintie of that which is decided by the Catholique Church of Christ Concerning therefore the name and inscription S. Ierom very probably supposeth that these Bookes haue their title of Iudas MACHABEVS the narration of whose heroical vertues and noble Act●s occupieth the greatest part of this whole historie And this surname Machabeus signifying valient of streingth or by an vsual hebrew contraction Mobi more explicated Milchamach Coach bihuda that is Force of battel or Streingth in Iuda was geuen him by his father Mathathias when before his death disposing of his sonnes exhorting them he sayd to them al You my sonnes take corege and doe manfully in the law because in it you shal be glorious And behold Simon your brother I know that he is a man of counsel heare ye him alwayes and he shal be father to you Next headdeth And Iudas Machabeus valient of streingth from his youth let him be to you the prince of warfayre and he shal manage the battel of the people And from him this name was also ascribed to his bretheren and to al the rest that ioyned with them either in the holie warres or otherwise shewed their valure professing Gods law in spiritual combate euen to death As Nicetas writeth in Orat. 22. S. Greg. Nazian VVherupon old Eleazarus and the seuen young bretheren with their mother are also called Machabees There be in al foure bookes called Machabees The first S. Ierom found in Hebrew the second in Greke as he testifieth Epist 106. The third is also extant in Greke and Latin in Biblijs Complutensibus The fourth semeth to be that which is mentioned in the end of the first booke And either the same or an other vnder that title is also extant in Greke as testifieth Sixtus Senensis li. 1. Bibliothecae VVho writte them is more vncertaine but most probable euerie one had a diuers auctor Neither are the two last approued for Canonical by anie authentical auctoritie It resteth therfore to speake of the two first which the Iewes and Protestants denie because they are not in the Hebrew Canon The Protestants further alleaging that they are not in the former Canon of the Church before S. Ieroms time Moreouer obiecting certaine places of these bookes which they say are contrarie to sound doctrine to the truth of other authentical histories or contradictorie in themselues None of which thinges can procede from the Holie Ghost the principal auctor of al Diuine Scriptures Al which textes we shal more conueniently explicate according to their true sense in their proper places As for the exception that these bookes are not in the Canon of the Iewes it is answered
both them coming against vs and the whole world with one becke † And he admonished them also of the aydes of God that were geuen to their fathers and that vnder Sennacherib an hundred foure score fiue thousand perished † And of the battel that they had against the Galatians in Babylonia how al they when it came to the point the Macedonians their felowes staggering being only six thousand slewe an hundred twentie thousand by reason of the ayde geuen them from heauen and for these thinges obteyned verie manie benefites † With these wordes they were made constant and readie to dye for the lawes and their countrie † He appointed therfore his brethren captains ouer both orders Simon and Ioseph and Ionathas vnder euerie one putting a thousand and fiue hundreth † Beside this also the holie booke being read vnto them by Esdras † and a signe of Gods helpe being geuen in the foreward the duke himself ioyned battel with Nicanor And the Almightie being made their helper they slew aboue nine thousand men and the greater part of Nicanors armie being made weake with woundes they forced to flee † And taking away their money that came to buy them they pursued them on euerie hand † but they returned being taken short with the time for it was the day before the Sabbath for the which cause they continewed not pursewing them † But gathering together the armour and spoiles of them they kept the Sabbath blessing our Lord that deliuered them this day distilling the beginning of mercie vpon them † But after the sabbath they diuided the spoyles to the feeble and to orphans and to widowes the rest themselues had with their felowes † These thinges therfore being done and obsecration being made in common of al they desired our merciful Lord that he would be reconciled to his seruants vnto the end † And of them that were with Timothee and Bacchides fighting against them they slew aboue twentie thousand wanne the high holdes and they diuided manie prayes making equal portion to the feeble pupils and widowes yea and to the elder men † And when they had diligently gathered together their armour they layd al together in conuenient places and the residue of the spoiles they caried to Ierusalem † and Philarches that was with Timothee they slewe a wicked man which in manie thinges had afflicted the Iewes † And when they kept the feast of victorie in Ierusalem him that had burnt the holie gates that is Callisthenes when he was fled into a certaine house they burnt a worthie reward being repayed him for his impieties † But the most impious Nicanor who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Iewes † being humbled through the helpe of our Lord by them whom he esteemed no bodie laying aside his garment of glorie fleeing by the midland came alone to Antioch hauing gotten great infelicitie by the destruction of his armie † And he that had promised that he would render tribute to the Romanes of the captiuitie of Ierusalem now professed that the Iewes had God their protectour that for him they could not be wounded because they folowed the lawes appointed by him CHAP. IX Antiochus repulsed from Persepolis 3. and hearing that his armie is ouerthrowne in lurie 9. wormes issuing from his bodie intolerably stincking 11. acknowlegeth his wicked desertes 14. promiseth amendment 18. writeth to the Iewes praying them to obey him and his sonne 28. and dyeth miserably AT that time Antiochus returned out of Persis dishonourably † For he had entered into the citie which is called Persipolis and he attempted to spoile the temple and to oppresse the citie but the multitude running together to armes they were put to flight and so it chanced that Antiochus after his flight returned with dishonour † And when he was come about Ecbatana he vnderstood the thinges that were done to Nicanor and Timothee † And swelling in anger he thought that he might wreake the iniurie of them that had put him to flight vpon the Iewes And therfore he commanded his chariorte to be driuen iorneing without intermission the heauenlie iudgement vrging him forward because he spoke so proudly that he would come to Ierusalem make it an heape of the sepulcher of the Iewes † But he that seeth al thinges our Lord the God of Israel stroke him with an vncurable and inuisible plague For as he ended this verie speach a cruel plague of the bowels tooke him and bitter torments of the inner parts † and in dede very iustly as who had tormented the bowels of others with manie and new torments albeit he by no meanes ceased from his malice † And beside this replenished with pride breathing fire in his minde against the Iewes and commanding the matter to be hastened it chanced him going with violence to fal from the chariot and his limmes to be vexed with a greeuous bruising of the bodie † And he that seemed to himself to rule euen ouer the waues of the sea replenished with pride aboue the measure of man and to weye the heights of mountaines in a balance now being humbled to the ground was caried in a portatiue seate testifying the manifest power of God in himself † so that out of the bodie of the impious man wormes crawled abundantly and his liue flesh fel of for paynes with his smel also stinke the armie was anoyed † And he that a litle before thought to touch the starres of heauen him no man could carie for the intolerable stinke † Hereby therfore he begane being brought from his great pride to come to the knowlege of him self admonished by the plague of God his paines increasing euerie moment † And when neither himself now could abide his owne stinke thus he sayd It is reason to be subiect to God a mortal man not to thinke of himself equally with God † And this wicked man prayed to our Lord of whom he was not to obteyne mercie † And the citie to the which he came in hast to haue brought it to the ground to haue made it a sepulchre of bodies heaped together now wisheth to make it free † And the Iewes whom he sayd he would not vouchsafe worthie no not of burial but would geue them to birds wilde beastes to be spoiled destroy them with the litle ones now he promiseth to make them equal with the Athenians † The holie temple also which before he had spoiled he would adorne with goodlie donaries and would multiplie the holie vessels and of his reuenewes would allow the charges perteyning to the sacrifices † Besides these thinges that he would be a Iew also would walke through euerie place of the earth and would declare the power of God † But the paines ceasing not for the iust iudgement of God was come vpon him despayring he wrote to the Iewes by the maner of a supplication an epistle conteyning these words † To HIS
This Iechonias or Ioachin remained in prison til the death of Nabuchodonosor the space of thirtie seuen yeares and was then deliuered by Euilmerodach and by him entertayned courteously as a prince 4. Reg. 25. v. 27. He maried there and had issue Salathiel and Salathiel h●d Zorobabel Who together with Iosue sonne of Iosedech highpriest Esdras Nehemias others recited 1. Esd 2. conducted the children of Israel from Babylon into their countrie There were also in a former transmigration Daniel and the other three children Ananias Misael Azarias of the royal or principal bloud in the third yeare of Ioakim otherwise called Eliacim sonne of Iosias 4. Reg. 23. v. 34 king of Iuda Dan. 1. v. 1. 6. These with others were caried ●s hostages into Babylon and brought vp more liberally Where seruing God sincerely abstayning from vnlawful meates were protected by God much also estemed and promoted in that place For Daniel about the age of twelue yeares conuinced the two wicked Iudges and deliuered Susanna from their cruel handes Dan. 13. And afterwardes for declaring and interpreting the kings dreame Dan. 2. and excellent wisdom and gift of prophecie was admired by al aduanced by the king but maligned by certaine enuious sorcerers and great men Wherby he was sometimes in great danger but stil deliuered by Gods powre protecting him Dan. 6. 14. The other three children were likewise aduanced Dan. 2. v. 49. and therfore by diuers enuied and for refusing to adore an idol set vp by Nabuchodonosor were cast into a hote burning furnace and there preserued Dan. 3. Ieremie who before this time begane to prophecie whiles he was a childe Iere. 1. continued in the time of captiuitie in Ierusalem and Iurie with much affliction and stil prophecying finally dyed in Aegypt Baruch his scribe and also a Prophete went sometimes into Babylon and returned into Iurie Baruch 1. instructing and exhorting the people Ezechiel was caried with king Iechonias and Iosedech into Babylon and there prophecied ch 1. v. 2. part of the same time with Daniel in great part the same thinges with Ieremie And during the captiuitie king Iechonias Iosedech the highpriest Ieremie Baruch Ezechiel prophetes innumerable others some Martyres and manie Confessors parted from this world But Daniel yet liued And in place of Iosedech Highpriest Iosue succeded and the progenie of king Iechonias continuing in Salathiel and Zorobabel the nation ●ad them and other eminent men with temporal dependence vpon forreine princes in the next Monarchie of the Medes and Persians For when Darius king of Medes had slaine Ba●●azar king of the Chaldees and so possessed Babylon with the whole countrie he brought the Monarchie to the Medes Persians Dan. 5. v. 31. and within the space of one yeare he dyed and Cyrus succeding granted leaue to al the Iewes to returne into Iurie and there to build vp their temple and citie of Ierusalem which Nabuchodonosor had destroyed At which time Daniel had his vision that Christ our Sauiour should come into the world within seuentie weekes of seuen yeares to the weke that is in foure hundred ninetie yeares after the perfect finishing of the temple and citie Dan. 9. v. 24. 25. But when they were so built againe that the wekes beganne to be counted is very obscure as it was the wil of God that the prophecie being certayne in itself should not be ouer clere to euerie mans vnderstanding but as likewise manie other prophecies shut and sealed Dan. 12. v. 6. 9. 13. In this time of the Medes and Persians Monarchie Mardocheus remayning in Chaldea after the relaxation had that vision in a dreame Esther 11. after which folowed the historie of him Quene Esther and wicked Aman with the danger and deliuerie of al the Iewes in those partes Some thinke it likewise probable that the historie of Iudith happened after the captiuitie though others suppose that it was in the time of Manasses king of Iuda which not being our purpose to discusse and decide we wil passe to thinges more certayne The prophetes Aggeus Zachatias nere twentie yeares after the relaxation earnestly exhorted the princes people to build vp the temple which had bene begunne and now was neglected vpon vaine feare thincking the time was not yet come of building the house of our Lord. Aggeus 1. v. 2. Wherupon the prophet reproueth them expostulating thus Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house of our Lord desert And assureth them v. 10. that their ground should remaine barren and ch 2. v. 15. their sacrifices vngratful til they should build the temple promising moreouer that this new temple should be more glorious by Christs personal presence therin then the former temple built by Salomon But especially the Church of Christ presigured by the temple should farre excel the Synagoge of the old testament ch 2. v. 10. Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first Which Zacharie confirmeth inuiting the Gentiles to come and the Iewes to returne into Christs Church ch 2. v. 6. O flee out of the land of the North sayth our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you v. 7. O Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And by diuers other visions and prophecies they forshew the conuersion of the Gentiles and reiection of the Iewes for their obduration but in the end they also shal be conuerted Malachie prophecied after the finishing of the temple exhorting al to offer their sacrifices with puritie of hart reprehending both priestes and people for not so doing ch 1. He also foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles with the change of the old sacrifices and institution of a new farre more excellent and more effectual to be offered euerie where v. 10. 11. He concludeth his prophecie ch 4. foretelling the terrible day of Iudgement and life or death euerlasting These later prophetes yet liuing as Iosephus Eusehius Theodoretus and others testifie in their histories the Grecians obtained so great a Monarchie by king Alexander the Great of Macedo that being parted after his death amongst manie yet al were great kingdomes some longer some shorter time In the beginning wherof when king Alexander came to Ierusalem as Iosephus writeth li. 11. c. 8. Antiquit. Iaddus the highpriest going forth in his pontifical attyre to mete him the same king straightwayes fel downe at his feete with al reuerence And being demanded by his freindes the princes of his armie why he so much honored the highpriest he answered that he honored no● the man for himself but for his office and God in him who had appeared to him in slepe in that very habite and ornaments when he in Macedonia discoursed in his minde of making battel against the Persians promising him assured victorie Shortly
Assirians toward them to strengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VIII Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters 14. n●t licence to tak● gold siluer and al thinges necessarie at their pleasure 31. The chief m●n that goe with him are recited 51. He voweth a fast praying for good successe in their iorney 56. weigheth the gold and siluer which he deliuereth to the Priestes and Leuites 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance for their mariages made with infideles AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome † the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Ameri the sonne of Azahel the sonne of Bocci the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest † This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe wise in the law of Moyses which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and to doe † And the king gaue him glorie because he had found grace in al dignitie and desire in his sight † And there went vp with him of the children of Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the sacred singers of the temple and the porters and the seruantes of the temple into Ierusalem † In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth † they came to Ierusalem according to his commandment according to the prosperitie of their iourney which their Lord gaue them † For in these Esdras had great knowlege that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges which were according to the law and the preceptes of our Lord and in teaching al Israel al iustice and iudgement † And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest the reader of the law of our Lord the copie wherof here foloweth † KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord greeting † I of curtesie esteming it among benifites haue commanded them that of their owne accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes and of the Priestes and Leuites which are in my kingdom to goe with thee into Ierusalem † If anie therfore desire to goe with thee let them come together and set forward as it hath pleased me and my seuen freindes my counselers † that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ierusalem obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. † And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ierusalem and al the gold and siluer that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem with that † which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ierusalem that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen and rammes and lambes and kiddes and for the thinges that are agreable to these † that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord which is in Ierusalem † And al thinges whatsoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer doe it at thy pleasure according to the precept of the Lord thy God † And the sacred vessels which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God which is in Ierusalem † And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kings treasure † When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and siluer doe according to the wil of the Lord. † And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria and Phaenice that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord shal write for they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of siluer likewise also of gold † And vnto an hundred measures of corne an hundred vessels of wine and other thinges whatsoeuer abound without taxing † Let al thinges be done to the most high God according to the law of God lest perhaps there arise wrath in the reigne of the king and of his sonne and his sonnes † And to you it is sayd that vpon al the Priestes and Leuites and sacred singers and seruantes of the temple scribes of this temple † no tribute nor any other taxe be sette and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them † But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God appoynt iudges and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice and teach al them that know no the law of thy God † that whosoeuer shal transgresse the law they be diligently punished either with death or with torment or els with a forfeite of money or with banishment † And Esdras the scribe sayd Blessed be the God of our fathers which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart to glorifie his house which is in Ierusalem † And hath honoured me in the sight of the king and of his counselers and freindes and them that weare purple † And I was made constant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God and gathered together of Israel men that should goe vp together with me † And these are the princes according to their kindredes and seueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes † Of the children of Phares Gersomus and of the children of Siemarith Amenus of the children of Dauid Acchus the sonne of Scecilia † Of the children of Phares Zacharias and with him returned an hundred fiftie men † Of the children of leader Moabilion Zaraei and with him two hundred fiftie men † Of the children of Zachues Iechonias of Zechoel and with him two hundred fiftie men † of the children of Sala Maasias of Gotholia with him seuentie men † of the children of Saphatia Zarias of Michel and with him eightie men † of the children of Iob Abdias of Iehel and with him two hundred twelue men † of the children of Bania Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia and with him an hundred sixtie men † of the children of Beer Zacharias Bebei and with him two hundred eight men † of the children of Ezead Ioannes of Eccetan and with him an hundred ten men † of the children of Adonicam which were last and these are their names Eliphalam the sonne of Gebel and Semeias and with him seuentie men † And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia and we camped there three dayes and vewed them againe † And of the children of the Priestes and Leuites I found not there † And I sent to Eleazarus and Eccelon and Masman and
Maloban and Enaathan and Samea and Ioribum Nathan Enuagam Zacharias and Mosolam the leaders them selues and that were skilful † And I sayd to them that they should come to Loddeus who was at the place of the treasurie † And I commanded them to say to Loddeus and his brethren and to them that were in the treasurie that they should send vs them that might doe the function of priesthood in the house of the Lord our God † And they brought vnto vs according to the mightie hand of the Lord our God cunning men of the children of Moholi the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel S●bebia his sonnes and brethren which were eightene † Asbia and Amin of the sonnes of the children of Chananeus and their children twentie men † And of them that serued the temple whom Dauid gaue and the princes themselues to the ministerie of the Leuites of them that serued the temple two hundred twentie Al their names were signified in writings † And I vowed there a fast to the yong men in the sight of God that I might aske of him a good iourney for vs and them that were with vs and for the children and the cattel because of ambushementes † For I was ashamed to aske of the king footemen and horsemen in my companie to guard vs against our aduersaries † For we sayd to the king that the power of our Lord wil be with them that seeke him with al affection † And agayne we besought the Lord our God according to these thinges whom also we had propicious and we obteyned of our God † And I separated of the rulers of the people and of the Priestes of the temple twelue men and Sedebia and Asanna and with them of their brethren ten men † And I weyed to them the gold and siluer and the vessels of the house of our God perteyning to the Priestes which the king had geuen and his counselers and the princes and al Israel † And when I had weyed it I deliuered of siluer an hundred fiftie talentes and siluer vessels of an hundred talentes and of gold an hundred talentes † And of vessels of gold seuen score and twelue brasen vessels good of shyning brasse resembling the forme of gold † And I sayd to them You are also sanctified to our Lord and the vessels be holie and the gold and siluer is vowed to our Lord the God of our fathers † Watch and keepe til you deliuer them to some of the rulers of the people and to the Priestes and Leuites and to the princes of the cities of Israel in Ierusalem in the treasurie of the house of our God † And those Priestes and Leuites that receiued the gold and siluer and vessels brought it to Ierusalem into the temple of our Lord. † And we went forward from the riuer Thia the twelfth day of the first moneth til we entred into Ierusalem † And when the third day was come in the fourth day the gold being weyed and the siluer was deliuered in the house of the Lord our God to Marimoth Priest the sonne of Iori † And with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinees and with them were Iosadus the sonne of Iesus and Medias and Banni the sonne of a Leuite by number and weight al thinges † And the weight of them was writen the same houre † And they that came out of the captiuitie offered sacrifice to our Lord the God of Israel oxen twelue for al Israel rammes eightie six † lambes seuentie two bucke goates for sinne twelue and for health twelue kyne al for the sacrifice of our Lord. † And they read againe the preceptes of the king to the kinges officers and to the deputies of Coelesyria and Phoenice and they honored the nation and the temple of our Lord. † And these thinges being finished the rulers came to me saying The stocke of Israel and the princes and the Priestes and the Leuites † and the strange people and nations of the land haue not separated their vncleannes from the Chananeites and Hetheites and Pherezeites and Iebuseites and Moobites Aegyptians and Idumeians † For they are ioyned to their daughters both themselues and their sonnes and the holie sede is mingled with the strange nations of the earth and the rulers and magistrates were partakers of that iniquitie from the beginning of the reigne it self † And forth with as I heard these thinges I rent my garmentes and the sacred tunike and tearing the heares of my head and my beard I sate sorowful and heauie † And there assembled to me mourning vpon this iniquitie as manie as were then moued by the word of our Lord the God of Israel and I sate sad vntil the euening sacrifice † And I rising vp from fasting hauing my garmentes rent and the sacred tunike kneeling and stretching forth my handes to our Lord † I sayd Lord I am confounded and ashamed before thy face † for our sinnes are multiplied ouer our heades and our iniquities are exalted euen to heauen † Because from the times of our fathers we are in great sinne vnto this day † And for the sinnes of vs and of our fathers we haue bene deliuered with our brethren and with our Priestes to the kinges of the earth into sword and captiuitie and spoile with confusion vnto this present day † And now what a great thing is this that mercie hath happened to vs from thee ô Lord God leaue thou vnto vs a roote and a name in the place of thy sanctification † to discouer our light in the house of the Lord our God to geue vs meate in al the time of our bondage † And when we serued we were not forsaken of the Lord our God but he sette vs in fauour appointing the kinges of the Persians to geue vs meate † and to glorifie the temple of the Lord our God and to build the desolations of Sion to geue vs stabilitie in Iurie and Ierusalem † And now what say we Lord hauing these thinges For we haue transgressed thy preceptes which thou gauest into the handes of thy seruants the prophetes † saying That the land into which ye entred to possesse the inheritance therof is a land polluted with the coinquinations of the strangers of the land and their vncleanes hath filled it wholy with their filthines † And now your daughters you shal not match with their sonnes and their daughters you shal not take for your sonnes † And you shal not seeke to haue peace with them for euer that growing strong you may eate the best things of the land and may distribute the inheritance to your children for euer † And the thinges that happen to vs al are done for our nauhtie workes and our great sinnes † And thou gauest vs such a roote and we are returned againe to transgresse thy ordinances that we would be mingled with the vncleannes of the nations of this land † Wil t not thou be wrath with vs to
Babylon and was trubled lying in my chamber and my cogitations came vp ouer my hart † because I saw the desolation of Sion and the abundance of them that dwelt in Babylon † And my spirit was tossed excedingly and I began to speake to the highest timorous wordes † and sayd O Lord dominatour thou spakest from the beginning when thou didst plant the earth and that alone and didst rule ouer the people † and gauest Adam a dead bodie but that also was the worke of thy handes didst breath into him the spirit of life and he was made to liue before thee † and thou broughst him into paradise which thy right hand had planted before the earth came † And him thou didst command to loue thy way and he transgressed it forth with thou didst institute death in him and in his posteritie and there were borne nations and tribes and peoples and kinreds wherof there is no number † And euerie nation walked in their owne wil they did meruelous thinges before thee and despised thy preceptes † And agane in time thou broughst in the floud vpon inhabitantes of the world and didst destroy them † And there was made in euery one of them as vnto Adam to dye so to them the floud † But thou didst leaue one of them Noe with his house and of him were al the iust † And it came to passe when they began to be multiplied that dwelt vpon the earth multiplied children and peoples and manie nations and they begane againe to doe impietie more then the former † And it came to passe when they did iniquitie before thee thou didst choose thee a man of them whose name was Abraham † And thou didst loue him and to him on lie thou didst shew thy wil. † And thou didst dispose vnto him an euerlasting testament and toldst him that thou wouldst neuer forsake his seede And thou gauest him Isaac and to Isaac thou gauest Iacob and Esau † And Iacob thou didst seuer to thy selfe but Esau thou didst separate And Iacob grewe to a great multitude † And it came to passe when thou didst bring forth his sede out of Aegypt thou broughst it vpon mount Sinai † And thou didst bowe the heauens and fasten the earth and didst shake the world and madest the depthes to tremble and trubledst the world † and thy glorie passed foure gates of fire and of earthquake and winde and frost that thou mightst geue a law to the seede of Iacob and to the generation of Israel diligence † And thou didst not take away from them a malignant hart that thy law might bring forth fruite in them † For Adam the first bearing a vi●ious hart transgressed and was ouercome yea and al that were borne of him † And it was made a permanent infirmitie and the law with the hart of the people with the wickednes of the roote and that which is good departed and the wicked remayned † And the times passed the yeares were ended and thou didst raise vp vnto thee a seruant named Dauid † and spakest vnto him to build a citie of thy name and to offer vnto thee in it frankencense and oblations † And this was done manie yeares and they that inhabited the citie forsooke thee † in al things as Adam and al his generations For they also vsed a wicked hart † And thou didst deliuer thy citie into the hands of thyne enimies † Why doe they better thinges that inhabite Babylon And for this shal she rule ouer Sion † It came to passe when I was come hither and had sene the impieties that can not be numbred and my soul saw manie offending this thirteth yeare my hart was astonied † because I saw how thou bearest with their sinne and didst spare them that did impiously and didst destroy thine owne people and preserue thine enimies and didst not signifie it † I nothing remember how this way should be forsaken doth Babylon better thinges then Sion † Or hath anie nation knowen thee beside Israel or what tribes haue beleued thy testamentes as Iacob † Whose reward hath not appeared nor their labour fructified For passing through I passed among the nations and I saw them abound and not mindeful of thy commandmentes † Now therfore wey our iniquities in a ballance and theirs that dwel in the world thy name shal not be found but in Israel † Or when haue not they sinned in thy sight that inhabite the earth or what nation hath so obserued thy commandmentes † These cettes by their names thou shalt finde to haue kept thy commandmentes but the nations thou shalt not finde CHAP. IIII. Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement of God 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations 33. nor of times and thinges to come AND the Angel answered me that was sent to me whose name was Vriel † and sayd to me Thy hart exceding hath exceded in this world thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest † And I sayd It is so my Lord. And he answered me sayd I am sent to shew thee three wayes to propose to thee three similitudes † Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them I also wil shew thee the way which thou desirest to see and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is † And I sayd Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me Goe wey me the weight of the fire or measure me the blast of the winde or cal me backe the day that is past † And I answered and sayd what man borne can doe it that thou askest me of these thinges † And he sayd to me If I should aske thee saying How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea or how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth or how great vaines be there aboue the firmament and what are the issues of paradise † thou wouldest perhaps say to me I haue not descended into the depth nor into hel as yet neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen † But now I haue not asked thee sauing of the fire and the winde and the day by the which thou hast passed and from the which thou canst not be separated and thou hast not answered me of them † And he sayd to me Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together with thee † and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest and now the world being outwardly corrupted vnderstand the corruption euident in my sight † I sayd to him Better were it for vs not to be then yet liuing to liue in impieties and to suffer and not to vnderstand for what thing † And he answered me said Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the filde and they deuised a deuise † and sayd Come and let vs goe and make watre against the sea that it
waters be found and al frendes shal ouerthrow one an other and then shal witte be hid and vnderstanding shal be separated into his cellar † and it shal be sought of manie and shal not be found and iniustice shal be multiplied and incontinencie vpon the earth † And one countrie shal aske her neighbour and shal say Hath iustice doing iust passed through thee and she shal denie it † And it shal be in that time men shal hope and shal not obtaine they shal labour and their wayes shal not haue successe † These signes I am permitted to tel thee and if thou pray againe and weepe as also now and fast seuen dayes thou shalt heare againe greater thinges then these † And I awaked and my bodie did shiuer excedingly and my soule laboured that it fainted † and the Angel that came that spake in me held me and strengthened me and sette me vpon my feete † And it came to passe in the second night and Salathiel the prince of the people came to me and sayd to me Where wast thou and why is thy countenance heauie † Konwest thou not that Israel is committed to thee in the countrie of their transmigration † Rise vp therfore and taste bread and forsake vs not as the pastour his flocke in the hand of wicked wolues † And I sayd to him Goe from me approch not vnto me And he heard as I sayd and he departed from me † And I fasted seuen dayes howling weeping as Vriel the Angel commanded me † And it came to passe after seuen dayes and againe cogitations of my hart molested me very much † and my soule resumed the spirit of vnderstanding agayne I began to speake wordes before the Highest † and I sayd Lord Dominatour of euerie wood of the earth al the trees therof thou hast chosen one vineyard † of euerie land of the world thou hast chosen thee one ditch of al the flowers of the world thou hast chosen thee one lilie † and of al depthes of the sea thou hast filled thee one riuer and of al the builded cities thou hast sanctified vnto theyself Sion † and of al created soules thou hast named thee one doue and of al beastes that were made thou hast prouided thee one shepe † and of al multiplied peoples thou hast purchased thee one people and a law approued of al thou hast geuen to this people whom thou didst desire † And now Lord why hast thou deliuered one vnto manie And thou hast prepared vpon one roote others and hast dispersed thy onlie one in manie † and they haue troden vpon it which gainesayd thy couenants and which beleued not thy testamentes † And if hating thou hatest thy people it ought to be chastised with thy handes † And it came to passe when I had spoken the wordes and the Angel was sent to me that came to me before the night past † and he sayd to me Heare me and I wil instruct thee and harken to me and I wil adde before thee † And I sayd Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me Thou art become excedingly in excesse of minde for Israel hast thou loued it more then him that made it † And I sayd to him No Lord but for sorow I haue spoken for my veynes torment me euerie houre to apprehend the pathe of the Highest and to search part of his iudgement † And he sayd to me Thou canst not And I sayd Why Lord To what was I borne or why was not my mothers wombe my graue that I might not see the labour of Iacob the wearines of the stocke of Israel † And he sayd to me Number me the thinges that are not yet come and gather me the dispersed droppes and make me the withered flowers grene againe † and open me the shut cellars bring me forth the blastes inclosed in them shew me the image of a voice and then wil I shew thee the labour that thou desirest to see † And I sayd Lord Dominatour for who is there that can know these thinges but he that hath not his habitation with men † And I am vnwise and how can I speake of these thinges which thou hast asked me † And he sayd to me As thou canst not doe one of these thinges which haue bene sayd so canst thou not finde my iudgement or in the end the charitie which I haue promised to the people † And I sayd But behold Lord thou art nigh to them that are nere the end and what shal they doe that haue bene before me or we or they after vs † And he sayd to me I wil resemble my iudgement to a crowne As there shal not be slacknes of the last so neither swiftnes of the former † And I answered and sayd Couldst thou not make them that haue bene and that are and that shal be at once that thou mayst shew thy iudgement the quicker † And he answered me and sayd The creature can not hasten aboue the Creatour nor the world sustayne them that are to be created in it at once † And I sayd As thou didst say to thy seruant that quickening thou didst quicken the creature created by thee at once and the creature susteined it it may now also beare them present at once † And he sayd to me Aske the matrice of a woman thou shalt say to it And if thou bring forth children why by times Aske it therfore that it geue ten at once † And I sayd it can not verily but according to time † And he sayd to me And I haue geuen a matrice to the earth for them that are sowen vpon it by time † For as the infant bringeth not forth the thinges that perteyne to the aged so haue I disposed the world created of me † And I asked and sayd Wheras thou hast now geuen me a way I wil speake before thee for our mother of whom thou toldest me yet she is yong now draweth nigh to old age † And he answered me and sayd Aske her that beareth children and she wil tel thee † For thou shalt say to her Why are not they whom thou hast brought forth now like to them that were before thee but lesse of stature † And she also wil say vnto thee They that are borne in the youth of streingth are of one sort and they of an other that are borne about the time of old age when the matrice fayleth † Consider therfore thou also that you are of lesse stature then they that were before you † and they that are after you of lesser then you as it were creatures now waxing old and past the strength of youth † And I sayd I besech thee Lord if I haue found grace before thine eyes shew vnto thy seruant by whom thou doest visite thy creature CHAP. VI. God knowing al thinges before they were made created them 54. for man and considereth the endes of al. AND he sayd to me In the beginning
not counting the tribe of Leui nor wemen nor anie vnder 20. yeares nor old men vnable to goe to warre :: Al other tribes were in respect of seruing about the tabernacle called strangers 3. Aug. q. 3. in Num. :: As none but Leuites might serue in the tabernacle so none but of Aarons stock might do the office of Priest hood :: One chiefe Monarch in the Church to whom al other Superiors are subordinate Moyses is stil counted and hath chiefe place and office among the Priestes which were absurde saieth S. Augustin in Psal 98. if he were not a priest :: The sonnes of Moyses were with him so long as he liued but after his death they serued the Priests as other Leuites did and were numbred with the Caathites 1. Paral. 23. v. 12. This number exceedeth the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 ●hy 300 are 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 summe o● the Leuites Perfect numbers signifie perfection :: In this case it was necessarie for the priests to enter in where otherwise none entered but the high Priest and that but once in the yeare And al being foulded vp others also entered to carie it away v. 15. :: See that by your negligence those that are next vnto you incurre not offence for so none shal be excused :: Stil by the lesse saieth Theodoret God instructeth in the greatter q 8. in Nū If therfore lepers were cast out of the campe how much more iustly are heretiques cast out of the Church :: God ordained this law and miraculously concurred therin to auoid wiuesslaughter vpō vehement ●elosie Theod. q. 10. in Num. * about the eight part of our pe●k :: VVater sanctified by special rites is called holie water and serueth to holie vse chap. 8. v. 7. c. 19. v. 9. :: The water wheron the priest laide curses to light on the woman if she were guiltie Particular confession of sinnes satisfaction required by the law of God :: VVhen Samson was depriued of these haires he lost his streingth ●●d●c 16. :: A special and determinate forme of blessing :: VVhen the priest vttereth the wordes God geueth the effect God prescribed the rule of Nazareites the rites of their consecration ● Aug. q. 52. in lib. Iudic. The same was a figure of vowes both temporal and perpetual :: Of great reuerence they cariod the arke and propitiatorie and the holie vessel ordinarily vpon their shoulders yet the same were sometimes caried on waines 2. Reg. 6. :: This water was mixed with ashes of a redde ow sacrificed without the campe chap. ●9 :: Aaron hauing receiued the Leuites presēted them to God and so addicted them to their designed offices :: By touching the dead ● ●● q. 15. in Num. :: God answered by a voice framed by an Angel from the propitiatorie chap. 7. ● 89. The second part Of diuers impediments which happened to the Israelites and renouation of sundrie precepts in their iorney from the desert of Sinai to the campe of Moab :: Before the whole multitude plaine and necessarie pointes of doctrine must only be vttered but before the lerned and wiser sorte ●●ghe● mysteries may be treated and taught Theod. ● 〈◊〉 in Num. :: Either this Hobab was otherwise called Raguel 〈◊〉 2. and also I●●●●o Exo. 3. and was father in law to Moyses or els he was sonne of the same Raguel and brother in law to Moyses * cognat● vel aff●n● :: Moyses meaneth that whē by the cloud and piller of fire their special guides the people should come to new places this Madianite his allied might direct them where to finde best pasture water and like commodities nere to them :: Besides general prayers for al purposes some are composed and applied for special times and occasions :: These were Aegyptians that parted out of their countrie with the Israelites and now murmuring drawe others by example to the same sinne :: Prayers of holie men are with submission of their willes to Gods wil either expressed or implied :: God imperted of the same spirite to these Ancientes wherof he had geuē to Moyses that they might haue so much helpe of grace as pleased God and Moyses haue neuer thelesse S. Aug. q. 1● in Num. :: Gods grace sometimes preuenteth the ordinarie meanes Theodoret. q. 21. in Num. :: By this example and figure S. Paul sheweth that al shal not be saued which are baptised communicate in the same faith Sacraments but those only which also please God in their workes 1. Cor. 10. Exod. 2. :: Madianites were also called Aethiopipians S. Aug. q. 20. in Num. :: The Holie Ghost forced Moyses to vtter his owne praise which of him self he desired not :: Aaron was not publikly punished lest therby he had bene made cō●emptible to the people but was otherwise chatised :: Changing of his name literally imported the great office of chiefe Duke vnto which he was designed mystically prefigured our Lord IESVS for it is the same name in Hebrew and signifieth SAVIOVR Theod. q. 25. in Num. :: Pretending falsly that the Land had an vnwholsome ayre deuouring the inhabitātes not possible to be obtained by reasō of the gyants couertly they detracted frō Gods powre or his good wil towards them who had promised the same And therfore he gaue it to their children but not to these seducers and murmurers chap. 14. v. 23 29. :: These murmurers had their wish to their owne punishmēt chap. 14. v. 29. 26. v. 64. :: It is so absolutly necessarie in euerie communitie to haue one Superior● fal that verie ●u●●e●s themselues do euer choose such a one cal him the Electo :: After the sinne is forgeuen yet punishment remaineth to be inflicted :: Although grace be first geuē without desert yet good workes done by grace do merite reward S. Aug. de ●●at lib. arb c. 6. :: Temporal punishment laid vpon the children for their fathers sinnes is for their owne spiritual good S. Aug. Epist 〈◊〉 ad A●●tum :: Though sinnes wittingly committed procedīg of pride and contempt of Gods commandment could not be pardoned by the law yet such may also be remitted through true repentance S. Aug. q. 25. in Num. :: Seueritie is vsed towardes those that knowīg Gods wil do contrarie Luc. 12. v. ●7 :: The Iewes in Christs time hypochritically enlarged these fringes for vaine shew of holines Mat. 23. :: So Luther li. de abrog Missa and other enimies of Ecclesiastical Hiererchy wil haue no proper Priesthood in the Church of Christ because al Christians are called a holie priestbood 1 Pet. 2 and Priestes Apoc. 1. :: Those that touch things perteining to impietie or depart not from the tabernacles of schismatikes are inwrapped in their sinnes much more to goe vnto bcretical Synagogues is condemned See ● Cyprian li. de la●●●s ●a ag ● :: Moyses pro●ed before by miracles Exod. 4. that he was sent of God and now he proueth againe by miracle that he and Aaron
haue geuen credite chap. 19. v. 24. :: God suffered Semei being of his owne free wil malicious for punishment of Dauids sinnes to curse him but was not the author of his malice for so Semei had committed no fault therein and then he could not lawfully haue benne punished for it as he was 3. Reg. 2. :: The people doubting lest Absalō might be reconciled to his father were not allured vnto him til they saw such a crime committed as semed to make reconciliatiō impossible So al rebelles and vsurper● of others right seeke by some enormious fact to make their adherentes and folowers sure vnto them but God plagueth them in the end as he did both Achitophel and Absalom :: Bad counsa●● often falleth worst to the counseller :: Dauid moued with compassion towardes his sonne Absalom being in actual rebellion against him presigured Christs cōpassion towards his persecuters being his creatures praying for them in his passion S. Ambrose in Psal ●18 v. 108. :: Al his sonnes being ●ea● ●●t he had once three sonnes a daughter chap. 14. v. 〈◊〉 :: Al the eleuen tribes are called by the name o● Ioseth being chiefe after Iuda S● Semei not of the proper tribe of Ioseph ●ut of Beniamin pleading for pardon of his former fa●lt alleageth that he came first of the eleuen tribes to submitte him self and serue the king :: Chiefe or great in ●amil●●iti● Iosue ● :: After that Dauid was deliuered from the handes of Saul 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 must dangerously of ● m●●●●secut●●●●● and 〈…〉 here specially named and from al his enimies c●rp●ral spiritual when he had good repose of mind his visible enimies being 〈…〉 ●ed and his sinnes remitted acknowledging Gods infinite goodnes by inspira●ion of the Holie Ghost made this Can title of thanks geuing and praise of God It is inserted amongst the Psalmes the 17 in order al one in sense so differing in some wordes that the one explicateth the other :: Though some few Gentiles were subdued by Dauid and some were conuerted to true religion in the old Testamēt yet the fulcon uersion of Gentiles per●eineth to the Church of Christ which is here forshewed and described to haue perpetual seede for euer :: King Dauid in this last prophecie plainly distinguisheth betwen the couenant pro●●ise made to him touching ●●s earthlie kingdom and the kingdom of Christ who should be borne of his 〈…〉 In both which 〈…〉 the reward of the good and punishment of 〈…〉 :: The king proposed not this for desire of that water but to trie and exercise his mens fortitude :: Precious thinges are most mete to be offered to God :: This sinne punishment happened before when Dauid had health and streingth of bodie The furie of our Lord that is Satan a ●u●●o●s spirite yet Gods creature not our Lord him selfe but by permission only 1. Par. 2. 1. Satan arose against Israel 〈◊〉 Dauid :: Contrition :: Confession :: Satisfaction The Epistle in a votiue Masse in tyme of plague or mortalitie :: Temporal punishment inflicted after the guilt of sinne was remitted :: If subiectes had not proprietie in their goodes but that the right and dominion of al perteyned to the prince then could nothing at al in anie case be geuen gratis by the subiect but only yelded as due to his souereigne The contentes of this booke diuided into three partes The first pa●● King Dauides admonitions to his sonne and his death :: For this conspiracie Abiathar was deposed ch ● v. 27. :: Basely estemed or punished as offenders vpon suspition or ●●lo●●● :: King Dauid did not ad●●e his sonne as a subject adoreth his prince ●a● adored God geuing thankes for this bene●●●e of a succed●● as it foloweth in the next verse The second part O● Salomons r●●●ne and actes good and bad :: In al co●●e 〈◊〉 suires●● 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 to heare his mother :: By special instinct Salomon did this extraordinarie fact as a prophet minister of God executing his sentence geuen before against the house of ●●l● 〈◊〉 the sinnes of his children ● Reg. 2. ● 31. and for A●●athars proper fault 〈◊〉 with Adonias against Salomon 3. Reg. 1. :: Salomon was not only a kīg but also a prophet Moreouer some secular princes do● 〈◊〉 ●●inate spiritual superiours are in shal them in ther 〈◊〉 yet thei● i●●●sd●ction is not depending on the 〈◊〉 but the 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 by them Num 27. v. 21. The Epistle on monday in the 4 weke of Le●● :: So here●●●es not being able to proue that their synagogue is the true permanent Church would destroy the Catholique and so haue none at al. :: These bookes are not extant * Narovv vvithout broad vvithin :: 〈…〉 :: Holie of holies or most holie place :: Stones in buildinges and bones in ●●●ng bodies represent the state of religious persones who being hidde in their Monisteties and c●ll●s so much the more fortifie the Church by how much 〈◊〉 they appeare abrode because their office is not to t●●ch but to mou●ne S. Bernard Ser. 64. :: It is a clere 〈◊〉 that al ●ar ued grauen pictures or images were not vnlawful but were religiously made sette in the holie Temple for the more honour of God The end of the fourth age Articles of ●aith other pointes of religion state of the Church more expressed in this fourth age then before Beleefe in one God Diuine lawes Moral Ceremonial Iudicial Mat. 22. Onely God to be 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 q. 154. in Eoxd Mat. 22. 〈…〉 Christ Freewil in Angels and men Obiection of Gods ●or ●novvledge answered Grace necessarie 2. Cor. ● Gods cōmand mentes possible to be kept Good workes Meritorious D●●ers sertes of Sacrifices Holocaust ●●● sinne Pacifique Fire sent from God 〈…〉 charitie Sacraments Alanus de Sacra c. 9. Manie more in the old Testament then in the new li de vera Religi●ne c. 17. Christs Sacraments more excellent Most of Christs Sacraments presigured in the old law but not al. S. Aug. in hunc Psal ser de ve●bis Domini li. 17. ciuit c. 20 li. 1. cont aduers leg c. 18. S. Cyril li. 3. m Ioan. S. Leo ser 8. le passione Some like im●●●●ments in ●se of holie Rites Tabernacle Propitiatorie with appertinances The Tabernacle and afterwardes the Temple the onlie place for Sacrifice Q●est 56. in Leuit. Yet God some times dispensed therein ibidem Feastes of the old law Figh●sortes of feastes besides the dailie sacrifice S. Beda de Embolismo 〈◊〉 1. Prescribed fast from euen to euen Seuenth yeare of rest and Iubiley yeare O●●●r ceremonial obseruances 〈…〉 and vncleane No bloud to be eaten nor 〈…〉 Not 〈…〉 ●eed● in one field No cloth of d●●ers matter Strict commandment to kep●●l the Law The obseruers blessed and rewarded Trans●r●ss●●●s cursed and punished VVork●● of supererogation Vowes Nazarit●● Rechabites Three so●●● of Chri 〈…〉 prefigured Laitie Clergie Mounkes Holie scip●●res expo 〈…〉 mystically S. Bern.
wherat myn enemies reioyce t After due sorow the true penitent hath confidence in God against his enimies Mat. 7. 25. Luc. 13. v VVil most certainly accept of true repentance w These are no● imprecations but threatninges that the wicked ma yamend or els predictions if they persist in sinne The octaue signifieth the world to come Hel for some sinners Purgatorie for others in Psal 37. 1. Cor. 3. Dauids prayer in tribulation the 8. key a This Chusi defeated the counsel of Achitophel as S. Aug. S. Basil S. Chris expound it b Absolom ●n anie other enemie if God doe not resist and hinder him c my life d Such euil as myne enemies fayne obiect against me e Let me not haue the victorie of them f Let me dye with ignominie g Shew thy powre h Seing thou diddest command to make me king it behoueth thee to protect me i manie wil serue thee the only true God k For this increase of faithful people l my iust cause against my particular enemies m let fal vpon me 1. Par. 28. Iere. 11. 17. n God doth not punish al sinners presently but often differreth o expecting if they wil an●d Isa 59. Iob. 15. p The iniurious persecutor purposing iniustice conceiueth enuie and bringeth forth iniquitie q Enuie desire to hurt others turneth to the ruine of the enuiers Christs Incarnation The 5. key a Belonging to the newe Testament b Suffering of Christ and of Christians c God the lord of al by creation is our singular lord that beleue and trust in him d God more excelent then the heauens he being the creator they a creature e fulfilled whē Christ coming into Ierusalem children sang Ozanna Mat. 21. Mat. ●● f The Sonne in assumpted humāe nature became lesse then Angels Heb. 2. g But in him mans nature is exalted aboue Angels h Christ the Lord of al creatures i yea of Angels Heb. 2. k Not only al reasonable creatures but al beastes and other thinges obey him The sea and the windes obey him Mat. 8. Gen. 1. v. 27. 1. Cor. ●● l The same end beginning signifie that as God was meruelous in creating man in so happie state that if he would he might haue auoyded both sinne death so he is meruelous in that he so rewardeth the blessed in the resurrestion that they can neither sinne non dye Presses signify Christs Passiō Isa 63. Morally i● signifieth the trauels of the Church militant vin●ci● Gods prouidence in protecting the good and permitting euil The 3. key a Christs coming in humilitie and Christians afflictions are hidden from the world in Gods prouidence b geue thank● c in mind d and bodie e God repelleth the enemie when man is not able to resist f A iust man doth his endeuour not of him selfe but by Gods grace ouercometh the enemie g Al sinners called gentils because they were generally accounted wicked h The vaine glorious fame of sinners partly decayeth in this world but most especially in the world to come i Iudicial seates of men are of●e● corrupted but Gods neuer k God doth not presently deliuer the good from afflictions but when 〈…〉 ir spiritual profitie l His precepts which men ought chiefly to studie m God reuengeth the blood of Martyrs n procured by mine enemies o In the publique view of the Church p The wicked are intangled in the snares which they lay for others q In zele of iustice not in desire of reuenge r By Gentiles is often vnderstood al great sinners For the Iewes despised Gentiles as the Romans did al Barbarous nations ſ Suffer a tyrant to rule ouer them that thereby they may lerne what it is to vse others vniustly It semeth to S. Augustine aprophecie that such as receiue not Christ shal beleue Antichrist 2. Thes 2. t The latter Hebrew Doctors v In great per secution it semeth to the weake that God differreth his assistance very long w Extremely vexed tormented x The Prophet answereth to the complaint of the iust that in deede the wicked are caught in their owne snares y not seeke to recouer Gods fauour z The wicked doth dominier for a time and thinketh he shal do so stil a and neuer fal into any aduersitie but stil remaine without miserie or anie euil Rom. 3. b The prayer of the iust in tribulation c ye vilest men d The iust ought alwayes to be readie prepared in hart to suffer patiently al that shal happen vnto them e As the first workes of Christ in al humility and patience were strange and hidden to the world v. 1. so his last iudgement shal be in maiesty and manifest to al in exalting the blessed and suppressing the wicked Some diuide this Psalme into two Sela a note of change or of rest in musike or rather of attention Al the Psalmes ●●● iust 150. Epist ad Marcel Anno. 1577. 1552. 1603. Gods prouident care of the iust The 3. key a S. Augustin applieth it to heretikes perswading Catholiques to repare vnto their separate congregation falsly calling it the montayne b Ye my freindes say thus c Persecuters vsing al rigor and force d falsly pretēd other causes against the innocent to destroy them e It is the maner of persecuters and especially of heretikes to destroy and puldowne that others haue built Abac. 2. f Though God seme to winke or sleepe yet his prouidence stil watcheth and obserueth al mens actions g Proueth by tribulations h Continuāce in sinne bringeth damnation to the soule i God sparing for the time at last must needes of iustice punish seuerely The state of the Church in the first and of Christ The 6. key a Christs first b and last comming c wil bring ioy to the elect d Christ calleth his mystical bodie him selfe Act. 9. v. 4. e False and duble dealing hinder from true faith f Insolent arrogant g VVhen sinne most abunded Christ came into this world and in like case wil come to iudge ●reuer'● 3● h yet stil there remaine some iust whom God preserueth i God sometimes suffereth the wicked to do what euil they desire Temporal desires hinder the entrance into heauen li. 12. c. ●3 〈…〉 Platonistes error A prayer in tribulation The 7. key a It more perteyneth to the new testament then to the old b Carful and almost perplex cogitatios by reason of long persecution and mans Weaknes c Very often euerie day d fal not into mortal sinne c Patience in tribulation and reward for victory Of Christs Incarnation The 5. key a wicked men drowned in sinne are at last so besotted in their vnderstanding that they thinke in their hart though they dare not vtter it that there is no God that is none that hath diuine prouidence in gouerning the world nor that wil iudge al in the end Psal 52. b defiled withal sortes of sinne c not only the most Wicked but also al mankind were vnable
life we must desire more and more knowledge of true doctrin h from the first vse of reason at which time manie are careles i negligent to lerne how to serue God k As God is sweete in geuing good motions l so he is seuere to them that resist his grace m God mercifully p euenteth with his grace n and iustly rewardeth good workes o Gods law is his couenant with man p and testimon e of his wil. q sinne in respect of auersien from God is great nedeth ●e grace r He that feareth God which is the beginning of wisdome receiueth fiue spiritual commodities here mentioned 1 God iustructeth him by his law 2 bestoweth al necessaries vpon him 3 others shalimitate his good example 4 God wil protect him 5 According to Gods couenant he shal enioy the manifest sight of God for his eternal reward ●mans weaknes without Gods helpe t Tribulatiōs can not be a●o●de● but must necessarily be suffered therfore ô God g●ue vs grace to passe through them without sinne v myn affliction w take away the cause and affliction wil be mitigated Ioan. 15. x wicked men of ●●ured do end ●our to draw others into sinne y Those that hope in God shal neuer be confounded z Al The letters of the Alphebet being complete in this Psalme this last verse beginneth with Pere Redeeme praying God to redeme and deliuer Israel that is the whole Church from tribulations Dauids prayer distressed in persecution The 8. key a This Psalme is also a counenient prayer for anie Christian in tribulation b Be thou ô God arbiter of the cause bet 〈…〉 Saul and me thou knowest myn innocencie in this behalfe though I am uniustly charged by Saul and his freindes c Lest perhaps I be not so innocent as I desire and as in respect of Saul I hope that I am do thou O God proue me as thou wilt by tribulations d Dauid in confidence of a good conscience and zele against the wicked alleageth his sincere proceding more then ordinarie men may do God so inspiring him extraordinarily e The rest of this Psalme euerie Priest reciteth in Masse before he offer the holie Sacrifice professing putting him selfe in memorie that he must only communicate with the innocent or of pure conscience f and so approch to the Altar prefigured Leuit. 16. v. 4. g Shutting the eares of my hart from euil and vaine thoughtes I wil attend to godlie inspirations h and so with mental prayer and external voice as the holie order of this sacred office requireth praise thee ô God in thy meruelous workes Epi. ●●● c. 11. i I can not but singularly loue the excellencie of this place dedicated to thy seruice where is true faith vnitie and charitie of thy people the guard of holie Angels the administratiō of sacred mysteries assistance of the Holie Ghost real presence of Christ our Lord al replenished with Diuine maiestie k This representeth vnto me the glorious heauenlie kingdom of God and al Sainctes l Suffer me not therfore to be contaminate by the wicked nor to be deuoured with them m They are stil readie to committe more and more iniquities n themselues being corrupted endeuour by giftes of wordly commodities to corrupt others o Euerie one ought so to purge his conscience that he may be innocent or free from great sinne p deliuer me from this necessitie of dwelling among the wicked q I intend to walke right r I desire ●● praise thee amongst thy true faithful seruantes A singular great afflictiō to be hindered from Gods true seruice Christians must abhorre and abstaine from al conuenticles of Heretikes and other Infidels An other confident prayer of Dauid in tribulation The 3. Key a Before his second annointing as is probable 2. Reg. 2. b Against ignorance God illuminateth his seruantes c against infirmitie he geueth streingth d so he nedeth not to feare anic mans malice suteltie nor force Luc. 21. v. 15. e How special a benefite Dauid estemed it to be in the Catholique Church the only true house of God! f Albeit the spiritual or carnal enemie seke to ouerthrow me yet I am secure in the Catholique Church g God either suffereth not the enemie to find his seruant h or not to be able to hurt him spiritually i whē a martyr or confessour dieth then he getteth the victorie against the perse●ntors k Diligently recounting al thy benefites I render thankes by sacrifice and praise l not only in hart but also singing with loud voice and instrument m In my inward sincere cogitation I desire and seeke that I may see thee n face to face 1. Cor. 13. v. 12. o In the meane time ô Lord grant me thy fauour p leaue me not though thou be angrie with me q He speaketh in the person of orphanes r Though car nal parentes forsake the iust man in tribulation yet God hath then most special care of him ſ Establish my hart in thy law t conserue me in the right way which thou hast already taught me and it is the more necessarie because myne enemies labour to peruert me v the willes vv false witnesses accused Dauid others accused Christ Mat. 26. others do stil accuse the iust Mat 5. x the wicked please themselues in lying but the chief hurt finally turneth vpon themselues y The prophet and al iust men are comforted by God and hope of reward in heauen z The iust exhorteth his owne soule to patience a fortitude b and longanimitie Psal 30. An other prayer of Dauid for deliuerie from euils The 8. key a Omitte not to comfort me b Suffer me not to be ouercome for God tempteth none to euil Iac 1. c The iust in zele of iustice pray that sinne may be punished d Ignorance doth not excuse when men may and wil not vnderstand e God saueth not without our cooperation with his grace f being comforted in spirite my bodie is as it were refreshed g freely and gladly h God protecteth and prospereth the kings good endeuoures for his people i As Psal 19. and often elswhere the subiectes pray for their Superior so mutually the superior prayeth for the subiectes The Church of Christ endowed with excellent mysteries The 6. key a 2. Reg. 6. v. 17. 1. Par. 16. v. 1. ●04 105. c Mysteries of the Catholique Church prophecied in this Psalme b Offer sacrifice of thankes for the singular benefites after recounted in this Psalme c Rammes were of the more principal thinges that were offered in the law of Moyses But the sonnes of rammes importe in mystical sense better hostes then rammes d The first thing in sacrifice is to glorifie honour and adore God in sinceritie of spirite e in his holie Catholique Chu●h f Here is a greater matter intimated then happened in the bringing of the Arke into a tabernacle prepared in Sion when Dauid danced and offered hostes for sacrifice others ioyning with
is most faithful that he vvil forgeue sinners and receiue them into his fauoure againe when so euer they resoluing to serue him repent and cease to sinne h Thou ô God that hast care of al creatures not only of men but also of brute beastes art euer readie of thy part to saue both moderate men in vvhom the light of reason remaineth and also grosse senseles persons vvhich are become brutish like horse and mule or other beastes i For so our Lord multiplieth his mercie k Yet with condition that sensles or brutish men must become reasonable men the children of men not coltes whelpes pigges c. l Sinners thus conuerted shal not only haue al necessaries in this life as al liuing creatures haue in this world but also shal hope of spiritual heauenly eternal glorie prepared for Angels and children of men as in the verses folovving m Le●t anie impediment hinder the obtayning and possession of eternal revvard the iust must specially pray not to be infected vvith pride n nor be ouercome by the forcible tentations of other sinners by persvvasion not euil example o The first sinne tovvit of diuels vvas pride and mans sinne vvas by persvvasion of the diuel p neither of which could escape punishment An exhortatiō to contempt of this vvorld The 7. key This Psalme is composed in order of the Alphabet euerie distick beginning vvith a diuers letter to moue the reader to diligent attention which may serue in place of a larger cōmentarie a For Dauids and euery iust mans instruction b Neither be thou offended that the wicked do prosper in this world nor imitate them that thou maist also prosper c For al this life and consequently the prosperitie therof is shorte and vncertaine d Put thy trust in God liuing content in this world e he wil geue thee that is necessarie f Commend al thyn affaire● to God g Partly making vertue appeare to the comfort of the vertuous and example of others in this life but especially in the next world h the land of the liuing Mat● i By way of imprecation as in manie other places the prophet forsheweth that wicked men shal fal into the euils which they prepare for others k Though the iust fal of frailtie orignorance into venial sinne yet Gods grace shal stay him that he fal not into mortal The iust falleth seuen times in the day riseth Prou. 24. l So king Dauid obserued and it very rarely happeneth that the iust or their children are ●●cle 2. destitute of necessarie sustenance in this vvorld If it chance in some it is to their greater merite and is manifestly recompensed in spiritual giftes In which sense S. Basil expoundeth that it is alwayes verified For God euer rewardeth good workes either temporally or spiritually or both wayes S. Augustin also conc 3. in hunc Psal exemplifieth in Abraham Isaac and Iacob with al his familie who were forced to goe into other countries by reason of famine and by Gods prouidence were there susta ned Gen. 12. 26 46 and S Paul among his other tribulations mentioneth famine and thirst 2. Cor. 11. v. 27. Seing therfore these so iust persons sought their bread in necessitie he expoundeth this holie Scripture in the Allegorical sense that the Church from her beginning in Ierusalem to the end of the world neuer wanteth the true word of God true faith and doctrin which is the spiritual bread vvher vvith the soule is nourished m In these tvvo prīciples declining frō euil and doing good true iustice consisteth n and he that finally obserueth these tvvo pointes mer●teth and shal possesse heauen Pro. 31. Isa ●● o to draw him to mortal sinne which is death of the soule p rewardes q mans iustice and wel doing is not of his owne powre but of Gods grace The third penitential Psalme The 7. key a In remembrance that by sinne ●● lost the rest and peace which man had in the state of innocencie secondly we lost the peace of conscience thirdly the rest and peace of eternal felicitie b Condemne me not to eternal paine c nor punish me in purgatorie fire but purge me so in this life that the purging fite be not needful By which fire saith S Augustin though some shal be saued grau●or tamen er●t ille ●gnis quam quicquid potest homo pa●●n hac vita yet that fire shal be more greuous hen whatsoeuer a man can suffer in this ●●ife S. Grego●y also expoundeth this same place as if Dauid sayd thus I ●new it will co●e to passe that after the end of this life some shal be cleansed by purging flames some shal be vnder the sente●ce of eternal damnation But because I do esteme that transitorie fire more intolerable then al present tribulation I desire not only not to be rebuked in furie of eternal damnation but also I feare to be purged in the wr●th of transitorie correption Thou therfore ó Lord whom I serue in my sp●●i●● whom I know to be the Sauiour of al men rebuke me not in furie of perpetual damnation not chatise me in wrath of purging punishment See Annotat. Psal 6. d Afflictions of mind and bodie sent by thy iust iudgement e thou hast strooke me with an heauie hand f I already feele in my flesh in al my bones and powre● great affliction g considering thy iustice h and my sinnes i which are excedingly increased almost ouerwhelming my spirite sinnes not washed away by penance by their weight carie the soule into more and more wickednes l stil corrupting those partes which were whole before as a pestered sore that is not cured m not able to goe streight to do anie good worke being guiltie of greuous sinne n concupiscence striuing in me o from the sorrow of my hart my voice hath broken out into clamour p ● God thou knowest my desire to be restored to thy fauour q those that were my freindes and companions in sinne are become myn enemies because I forsake them r sought by al meanes to intangle me againe ſ I now renoūce al sinne t I now relie vpon thee ô God v for this cause I am returned to thee and do pray that mine enemies may not preuail against me w I resigne my selfe to thee x though thou knowest al yet with mouth consession is made to saluation y and I meditate of that which my sinne hath deserued z one kind of detraction is in reueling secrete faultes an other in feaning and imputing false crimes the third here mentioned in calling vertue vice as penance hypochrisie a Graunt me Lord final perseuerāce in thy grace and seruice Gods prouidence The 3. key a Some expound this Psalme of the Iewes in captiuitie in Babylon but this title and the matter conteyned shew that it rather peteineth to the new Testament b to be songue by Idithun and his scholars successors or rather by Christianes c weake men in
spirite the perfections which he wisheth in Christ in maner of congratulating describeth his fortitude fighting against the diuel for the Church n purposing o prosecuting p and perfecting the conquest and so establishing thy spiritual kingdome q Not vvith warlike armour of this world but by assaulting the aduersarie with truth r defending thyse●fe and thy souldiers with the shield of mildnes ſ and striking the enemie with the sword of iustice VVhich right force of spiritual fight hath meruelous good successe t Preaching of Christs Gospel his grace mouing the hartes of the hearers is liuelie and forcible more pearcing then anie two edged sword v The example of people conuerted shal moue the hartes of the aduersaries to come also vnto the truth w Christs kingdom shal haue no end Luc 1. v. 33. x Thou defendest and rewardest the good finally forsakest and punishest the wicked y more peculiarly the God of Christ by hypostatical vnion z Diuers kinges as Dauid him selfe Iosaphat Ezechias and Iosias were as godlie as Salomon and perseuered good to the end which is doubted Salomon did not but Christ incomparably was annointed indued with al graces aboue al kinges a Mortification which conserueth from putrifying b humilitie aswaging pride c being smal in the first spring grovveth great d humanitie assumpted and sanctified persons in vvhom Christ dwelleth as in cleane shining odoriferous houses e sincere faithful soules more deare to their spouse Christ then daughters of temporal kinges f The Catholique Church in faith purified as gold g vvith varietie of states as Clergie Laity and diuers sortes of religious Orders and other professions al vnited in the same faith hope and charitie h carifully al that Christ thy spouse speaketh to thee by his Spirite i diligently put the same in practise k vvith al obedience and readines and returne not to former infidelitie no● to corrupt life l Christ loueth the Church adoined with his giftes m and mutually his true children loue and serue him n Manie of al nations submitle themselues and al that they haue to Christ o Internal vertues are most especial ornaments p exterior are required to edifie others in diuers sortes of vertues q By this meanes manie more are conuerted to christianitie r and one countrie inuiteth and draweth another ſ As Apostles came in place of Patriarches and Prophetes so stil Bishops and Priestes succede in the Church pastors and gouernours therof t These pastores shal stil teach the true Christian doctrin v and stil there shal be Christian people that wil folow and professe the same Caluin expoundeth this Psalme contratie to S. ●aul No saluation out of the Church Perpetual succession of Byshops in place of the Apostles The Church prospereth also in persecution The 6. key a Belonging to the Church of Christ b As wel the cause vvhy God suffereth his Church to be persecuted at his assured protection in difficulties are hidden secretes to the world c Al refuge is not secure for one man is not able alwayes to defend an other but God is a sure and strong refuge d euer able and in conuenient time vvilling to helpe e This whole vvorld is ful of tribulations but the Church suffered the greatest in the first persecutions shal suffer as great in the time of Antichrist English Catholiques suffer most of al nations in this age and can not be suppressed but stil increase in number and fortitude f Therfore al Catholiques may assuredly know that the whole Church can not faile g though very manie as now in England h and very eminent persons as some noblemen and some Priestes haue reuolted yet al vvil not i Such bad examples make the good to recollect themselues more diligently and to rei●yc● in Gods grace by which they stand fast k before the heate of persecution shal inuade al for the elect the dayes of tribulation are shortned l Sometimes one nation or kingdome rebelleth against the Church but can not destroy it m by the spirite of Christ Antichrist and al his members shal be destroyed n The Church sometimes hath great peace and tranquilitie o God himselfe restrayneth the wicked suddainly abating their furie or cutting of their forces Vocation of Gentiles The 6. key a For Christians that leaue the sinnes of their fathers and reioyce in Christ crucified See Annotation Psal 41. b True ioy of the hart sheweth it sel●e both in voice of exultation and also in gesture of body by clapping of handes dancing as king Dauid did before the Arke 2 Reg ● likevvise vvith instruments c To al the wicked d not only of one or few kingdoms but of al the earth e VVhen kinges and countries become Christians they are made subiectes to the Church that vvas before not heades and rulers therfore f Christ God man after his Passion rose from death and ascended g not leauing his Church desolate but making her ioyful by an other comforter the Holie Ghost h The same Christ is our God by his Diuinitie i and our king by his Humanitie k Doe your endeuour to vnderstand vvhat you sing read or heare in Gods word At least to know the principal Mysteries and pointes of Christian doctrin euerie one according to their capacitie and state or profession l The faithful of the old and nevv Testament are vnited in the seruice of one and the same eternal God m In respect of the Blessed Trinitie holie Scripture here and in manie places vseth names of the plural number as Eloim Goddes not diuiding Gods substance vvhich is one but insinuating distinction of Diuine Persons The Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost VVhich Mysterie is more expresly mentioned in Baptisme and professed by Christian gentils then it was by the people of the Ievves The Church founded and protected by God The 6. key a Voices beginning the musike instruments prosecuted b especially for the second day of the weke the day after the sabbath which is our Sunday called Dominica our Lords day c Ierusalem and mount Sion were most obliged to praise God for greatest benefites receiued so the Catholique Church therby prefigured and hauing receiued farre greatter is most of al bonden to be gratful d This can not be affirmed of Sion or Ierusalem but is only verified of the Catholique Christian Church e whose coastes do extend to the North and to al quarters of the round earth f The same one God one Christ one Faith and one Religion in al particular Churches of the vvhole militant Church g And this Vniuersalitie and Vnitie shal be after that Christ taking mans nature shal be ascended and shal send the Holie Ghost to found beginne this Church h For the assured certaintie of that is foreshewed the Prophet speaketh in the prete●●ence as if it vvere already done in his time which he then savv in spirite i Nothing more moueth he hart affecteth al the bodie and soule
supposing me to be like a ruinous or shaken wal that is easily throwne downe g They thinck stil to depriue me of my reward the price of my laboures and merites h but I runne so much more diligently as thirsting after righteousnes in this life and glorie in the next to finish my course i A most dangerous tentation when after threates and crueltie persecutors endeuour by swete wordes and promises to perswaed the iust to fal into sinne k I resolutly purpose not to yeld to anie tentations l Gods faithful seruantes are not only constant themselues but also exhorte and perswade al others as much as in them lieth to serue God and trust in him m Vsing false weightes they defraud one an other n God hauing nce spoken it is most assured o Two especial attributes of God p God is Omnipotent so that he can both reward and punish infinitly q and Merciful that he is readie to receiue al sinners into his fauour if they wil repent and turne vnto him Mat. 16. Rom. 2. 1. Cor. 3. Gal. 6. Dauids deuotion in banishment the 8. key a Holie Dauid made this deuout meditation when he was in the forest of Haret or desert of Ziph 1. Reg. 22. 23. and could not come to the tabernacle of God nor to Ierusalem where he especially desired to be in the inheritance of our Lord which was to him a great affliction As the like is now to Catholiques when they are put in close prison for their faith or otherwise hindered that they can not be present at the most holie and daylie Sacrifice In which ease we must supplie as we may this great losse and comfort ourselues with this or like Psalme or prayer saying O God my God to thee I watch b Euen from the first downing of the morning c my soule thirsteth after thee d yea also my very flesh and whole bodie feeleth great paines by this affliction of mind and desireth releefe and rest e Being now in case that I can not serue thee ô God as I would yet I exhibite myselfe present in spirite before thy holie place f meditating thy powre and thy glorie g This consolation in banishment from thy diuine Seruice is sweeter to me then manie temporal liues or anie worldlie prosperitie h For as the Passions of Christ abound in vs saith S. Paul 2. Cor. 1. so also by Christ our comfort aboundeth i Replenish my soul ô God with the aboundance of thy grace k so shal I be more able to praise thee l Seing in the night also in my bed I meditate of thee m I wil more diligently do the same in the morning n My temporal and spiritual enimies o and they shal be damned for their sinnes p It happened l●terally to Saul that he was slaine in battle which he made against his enimies q and his dead bodie was hung on a wall 1. Reg. 31. exposed to wilde beastes or birdes though it was after wards bu nt and buried r Dauid was presently after Sauls death exalted to the kingdome in figure of Christ whose name and glorie was exalted after the destruction of the Iewes by Pagane Emperours A confident prayer in trih●lation the 7. key a By example of thy former protection b from the conspiracie of wicked men I trust most assuredly in thy helpe c They are resolued to intrappe me d But as they haue failed so 〈…〉 and be ouerreached in their bad counsels as Achitophel 2. Reg. 17. e God hath chosen the weake of this world ●o confound the strong f much merueled seing the wicked so punished g The iust shal be praised for rightly seruing God Conuersion o● Gentiles the 6. key a The seuentie interpreters seing Dauid here prophecie of the peoples returne from Babylou added the names of Ieremie and Ezechiel who being in that captiuitie prophecied the same more largely As likewise these and other Prophetes foresavv in spirite and more especially prophecied the going forth of al nations from Babylon that is forsaking Idolatrie and embracing true Religion ●n the Church of Christ so S. Augustin Eutymius and others b Not in Babylon nor els vvhere but only in the Church praises and vovves are gratful to God c Alnations shal know thee d The wicked are insolent in threatning e but thou mercifully pardoning our sinnes they shal not hurt vs. f They are happie to whom thou hast prepared grace and glorie g The voice of the faithful reioycing in the hope of eternal glorie Rom. 5 h nothing polluted shal enter into heauen Apo. 21. i Thou which art al powreful as appeareth by the huge montaines k seas and other thy workc● l Thou wilt by thy omnipotent powre moue the hartes of obdurate men and so conuert innumerable of al nations to thee m Thou wilt draw manie to thee with ioy and gladnes from the vttermost coastes of the east and weast n God wrought diuers miracles in waters Gen. 7. Exo. 7. 14. 15. Iosue 3. 4. Reg. 5. 6. c. o likewise in prouiding meate for his people Exo. 16. 3. Reg. 17. 4. Reg. 4. 7. c. which were figures of Baptisme Eucharist and other Sacraments of Christ washing from sinnes and augmenting grace p so replenishing the Chureh with most sacred Mysteries q Endewing the Apostles and other preachers with spiritual grace and lerning r continuing the succession of pastores to watter and feede the faithful people ſ God blesseth the whole course or circle of time of the Church militant in this world t and the crowne or happie end of euerie iust persons life vv those vvhich are more eminent shal particularly reioyce in their ovvne and others spiritual progresse in vertue v Euen those which before had only a shew of beautie but in dede vvere barren shal yelde abundant fruict x The principal pastores shal in proportion reioyce aboue the rest for the grace and glorie of al their flocke y the subiectes also and inferior people shal be satiate vvith their happie lotte z Al together prelates and people higher and lovver shal vvith vn forme voice sing praises to God and perpetual hymnes Perpetuitie of the Church S. Aug. Eutym Reward of the iust Sainctes crownes are of Gods benignitie The Corones of our Lord and our Ladie Gentils succede the Iewes the 6. key a Mystical resurrection Gentiles succeding in place of the Iewes b Shew your internal ioy by external wordes and deedes c In drovvning the vvorld in confounding the tongues in Babel in burning Sodom and Gomorrha with brimston in plaging the Aegyptians in drovvning Pharao and his vvhole armie in the read sea in destroying the Chananites and other infideles in punishing the tenne tribes and aftervvards the other tvvo by captiuitie and innumerable other punishments al for sinnes d for vvhich euen the vvicked though not sincerly conuerted yet of seruile feare feaned and falsly promised to amend but performed it not as Pharao afflicted vvith plagues vvas
suffer him vvholly to omitte manifest profession of faith and true religion f seing by thy former grace I haue already reposed my trust in thy promises made to them that are resolued to kepe thy lavv g For I do firmly purpose euer and alwayes to kepe thy law h In this I haue had great ioy and comforte of mind i because I did in dede seeke after thy commandements vvhich is specially vttered as also the three next verses in the person of those that are in trial of persecution for their faith k VVho boldly in time of persecution euen before persecuting Kinges and Emperors professe Christs true Religion Veryfied in innumerable glorious Martyrs yea also of the fraile sexe in S. Catharin S. Cecilie S. Lucie S. Margaret S. VVenefrede S. Vrsula and her felovves and manie more most constantly ansvvering al vvordes of reproch obiected as if it vvere a base or contemtible thing to be Christians to be Catholiques to be Papistes No al these and the like are honorable and glorious titles importing the true seruice of Christ in vnitie of the Catholique Church and spiritual participation vvith the visible head therof Christs Vicar in earth l Such confessors as yet mortal reioyce in that they haue meditated in Gods commandments vvhich they haue feruently loued m Also shevved the same in external vvorke not dissembling by silence by vvord nor fact n euerie way exercising Gods lavv vvhich maketh the obie●uers iust a That vvhich God hath decreed and promised being in itselfe most certaine and assured yet includeth the meanes vvherby it shal be put in execution and therfore the iust his elect do pray for the performance of his vvil b Expectation of thy promise hath geuen me corege * elo●●●● c Provvde contemners of Gods lavv haue euerie vvay molested me by detracting deriding calumniating and violently persecuting me d Al vvhich I haue borne patiently and not declined from thy lavv e I remembred and considered thy iust punishments inflicted vpon the impious f euen from the beginning of the vvorld both vpon the diuels and vvicked men and that thou vvilt exercise the like hereafter g vvhich consideration of thy iustice comforted me h Otherwise if I had not sene thy iustice my zele against contemners of thy law would haue killed me i In this place of my perigrination from heauen I am comforted by remembring celebrating and singing thy iust commandments and lavves vvhich make thy seruants iust k In persecution and in al tribulation I kept thy law because I would not dishonour thy name l And my tribulation especially fel vpon me because I sought to be iustified by keping thy law a The Prophe● procedeth speaking in the person of the iust tending to perfection and saying This is my happie choise that I desire no other enheritance nor possession but to kepe Gods Lavv. b And seeing this excedeth my proper streingth I prayed God of his mercie to make me able to kepe it * ●loquiū c Pondering my former actions I turned my pathes to obserue more perfectly the Law which God hath testified to be the right way d With prompnes of mind and without hesitation I resolued to kepe the commandments e The wicked laide cordes nettes or snares to intrappe and hinder me f but I kept thy law fresh in memorie g That this is not vnderstood only mystically in time of affliction but also literally and prophetically that some special seruantes of God should obserue a godlie profession of praying at midnight the vvord I rose maketh it probable S. Paul Silas either of a holie custome or at least vpon special occasion and such occasions vvere to them and others frequent Act. 16. prayed and praised God at midnight And novv in the Church of Christ some religions men pray and praise God continually at midnight besides other houres mentioned more distinctly v. 164. h A great benefite and a singular consolation that al true liuing members of Christ are partakers of al the prayers good workes and merites of the whole Church militant and triumphant VVhich in our Crede is called The Communion of Sainctes i So great is the mercie of God extended communicated and multiplied in the whole earth k Instruct me and direct me therfore ó God that I may lerne and obserue thy law and so be iustified and made participant of so great mercie a Dealt very bountifully b as thou didst promise c He that hath bountifully receiued grace at Gods hand prayeth for more grace that he may be beneficial to others in releuing the needie d in instructing the ignorant e in perswading to kepe the law of God f because he hath lerned and beleueth the commandments by which he is bond to loue and haue care of his neighbour g Before I was afflicted I often fel into sinne h but vexation gaue me vnderstanding therfore now I kepe thy law * eloquiū i Contemners of thy law haue endeuored to intangle me k but I persist in keping thy commandments As before v. 51. 61. l Though the wicked combine themselues together against me m yet I consider that it is necessarie to perseuer in thy law n A clere comparison that it is better to kepe Gods law which bringeth life euerlasting then to haue al the riches kingdoms of this world a God being our Creator we may with confidence pray him to illuminate our mindes that we may lerne what is his pleasure and so endeuour to fulfil it b Others that loue God wil be gladde to see me also serue him c The iust being afflicted and not seing the particular cause therof yet knoweth and confesseth that God doth it for most iust cause d And therfore with patience prayeth for comforth as foloweth * eloquiū e who am almost dead in tribulation f The iust also prayeth that the wicked may be ashamed and conuerted for so the hebrew word here signifieth though it is also lawful to desire the iust punishment of obstinate sinners g He prayeth againe for conuersion of the wicked and to haue peace with them a Manie iust of the old testament most feruently desired the coming of Christ our Sauiour as our Lord himselfe testifieth Mat. 13 v. 17. And now the iust desire his coming in glorie 2. Tim. 4. v. 8 * eloquiū b Delaved hope afflicteth c As a leather bottel made of a beasts skinne congeled with the frost and after partched in smoke so is the bodie of the iust mortified by diuers sortes of afflictions made a new bottel fitte to receiue new wine that is perfect doctrin of Christian life as of fasting and other austeritie wherof our Sauiour speaketh Mat. 9. v. 17. d Such is mans infirmitie yea of the iust that he apprehendeth tribulations to be very long and therfore desireth consummation and that without sinne so he stil submitte his wil to Gods wil. e Friuolous idle tailes which are not according to Gods law f I
other reliques of Martyrs p casting them into the vilest planes they can willing if they could to throw them into hel q but the Church and al her members repose confidence in God * life r Therfore she prayeth that her children be not entrapped by guilful deceiptes ſ nor ouerthrowne by anie stumbling blocke cast in their way t In the end al persecuters and other wicked shal be caught in their ovvne nette of perdition v the Church is singularly protected euen to the end Dauids prayer in extreme distresse the 8. key a This Psalme in fotme of a prayer shevveth vvhat cogitations Dauid had in extreme danger b Not with exterior voice for so he should haue detected himselfe but with feruoure of spirite c VVhen by reason of extremitie I vvas not able to thinke hovv to helpe my selfe d thou ô God knovving my actions and demaneur didst deliuer me e I looked for helpe f and diligently looked about me g but none vvould seme to knovv me vvhen I required their helpe h Endeuoring to saue my self by flight I found no secure place for being in a caue or hole of a montaine the vvhole armie beseeged me al seeke to take avvay my life none to saue it i Thus leift desolate of al mans helpe and destitute of al vvorldlie shift I cried to thee ô Lord k my only hopeful refuge l neither do I desire to liue for anie vvorldlie respect but hauing chosen thee ô God for my portion and inheritance m I desire to be out of this desert place and to be in the land vvhere is right vse of religious diuine seruice n afflicted o Dauids desire of libertie was especially to this end that he might haue conuenient place and other meanes to serue and praise God p the good and vvel disposed people of Israel can not now serue thee as they desire but expect me q whom thou ô Lord vvilt aduance to the kingdom that then vve may serue thee more freely and more commodiously The prophetical sense of this Psalme The seuenth penitential Psalme the 7. key 2. Reg ●7 a God hauing so promised is bond by his truth b and his iustice to heare penitents praying for remission of sinnes c Deale not vvith me in rigour of iustice d for no mortal man is able of himselfe to be iustified abstracting from Gods mercie e sought my life f and brought it into great danger Spiritually the diuel as a ro●ing lion stil seeking vvhom he may deuour hath tempted me vehemently g I am pressed with great calamities temporal or spiritual h In this case I consider how God hath hertofore shewed his goodnes towards me and others i Stretching forth handes a ceremonie in prayer wherby the supplicant is made more attentiue and also indureth some paine for part of satisfaction k mans mind vvithout Gods illumination is drie and barren l In great tentations Gods grace and helpe is more presently nedeful to preuent our weaknes lest vve yeld consent m If God leaue man vvithout special and continual grace he vvil fal n into sunne as into a deepe lake from vvhence vvithout helpe he can not rise vp againe o In the first assault of tentation p Seing by thy grace I haue begunne to pray vnto thee q The penitent thus humbling himselfe and praying may assuredly trust that God doth remitte his sinnes by the holie Sacraments and iustifieth him protecteth him and wil bring him out of al dangers of spiritual or temporal enemies King Dauid praiseth God for his victories the 8 key a Because this vvas Dauids first and a very notable victorie the Septuagint Interpreters make mention of Goliath in this title b God made Dauid a warier and victorer against Goliath without anie former training in armes c Made him afterwards king of a great people d Al mankind was vnvvorthie before Christ e that God should be reueled vnto them f especially that he should haue care of the progenie of men after their sinne g In dede man in himself in his ovvne nature and frailtie is but a vaine and transitorie creature passing from life to death as a shadovv that can not consist of it selfe neither can man vvithout God h By a poetical description he prayeth for Gods helpe as if God should make the heauens to bovv and so descend or make the montaines smoke as vvhen Moyses receiued the lavv or declare himself by Meteors as folovveth i Tribulations or tentations k Children of the Church l but of euil life m They speake in vanitie that promise to kepe Gods law and performe it not n In that principal instrument apt for a new songue and for extra ordinarie benefites o Both Ievves Christians that liue not vvel are as strangers that frame to themselues such a false felicite as is here described making riches or vvorldlie pleasures their God * transmigration p True happines consisteth not in vvorldlie thinges q But in preferring God before al. Gods Maiestie excelleth al thinges the 1. key a By this title Esdras signifieth that the Holie Ghost vvho indited al the Psalmes to Gods praise more specially in these seuen last suggested to Dauid and by him to al Gods seruants that al their other seruice must tend and be directed to the praise of God and that therin vve must continevv and finally rest as in the sabbath of the seuenth day signified as S. Beda supposeth by these seuen last Psalmes of praise eternally praising our Lord God For vvhich principal end both Angels and Men yea and al other creatures vvere made b King is the proper epitheton of Christ the Sonne of God to whom in his humanitie God the Father promised the Church of al nations for his kingdom Psal 2. in vvhom also the vvhole Blessed Trinitie is praised c Al the time of this vvorld they praise God d after in eternitie e Of vvonderful and miraculous thinges vvhich strike terrour into mens mindes f The effectes of Gods mercie in redeming and recallidg sinners are eminent aboue al other workes g Therfore the sanctified haue special cause to praise God h Christs kingdom the militant Church is magnifical but much more the triumphant vvhich is eternal i God is readie of his part to lift vp al. k He geueth necessarie thinges to al liuing creatures euen to brute beastes The seuen last Psalmes perteyne more specially to prayses This Psalme and other six are composed in order of the Alphabet It is probable that the Hebrevv text novv vvanteth a verse in this Psalme And therfore is not more certa●ne then the Greke or Latin Al are exhorred to praise God and trust in his assured prouidence they key a The Septuagint added ●he names of these tuo Prophetes for the like reason as they added Ieromie Psal 136. because Aggaeus and Zacharias prophecying in the reduction of the people from captiuitie exhorted them as here the Psalmist doth to trust in Gods prouidence and preferre
and tentations then those by vvhich the damned vvere ouercome Thirdly certaine more excellent Sainctes namely the Apostles and al those that forsaking proprietie of temporal In Psal 121. v. 5. li. 3. in Mat. 19. ho. in Nat. S. ●ened goodes geue that they haue to the poore as some religious Orders doe or into a Communitie as the Apostles and manie primitiue Christians did Mat. 4. v 20. cap. 19. v 27. Act. 4. v. 34. 1. Cor. 6. v. 3. shal sitte in iudgement seates assessorie iudges with Christ and iudge those that render account of wel or euil spending the temporal landes or goodes which they possessed in this vvorld So teach S. Augustin S. Ierom. S. Beda and others God most excellent and most laudable the first key a Al ye Angels and men that are in the holie and highest heauen praise our Lord. b Al ye creatures that are in and vnder the first moueable firmament praise our Lord. c And you especially Gods peculiar people amongst whom and for whom diuine miracles haue bene wrought praise our Lord d with al your possible endeuoure for though his infinite Excellencie excedeth the powre of al creatures to praise him sufficiently yet it resteth that you may infinitly extend your wil and desire to praise our Lord according to the multitude of his greatnes e Out of this your great and infinite desire let your tongues sound and sing diuine praises as wel vvith voice as musical instruments f VVherof six most vsual in the Tabernacle and Temple vvere these Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cymbal g By the vvay the Psalmist interposeth agane tvvo especial thinges vvhich make perfect harmonie vvithout vvhich no instrument is gratful to God Vnitie amongst his seruants signified by the Quire of consonant voices h and mortification of passions signified by Stringes vvhich are made of dead beastes bovvels i Man created of corruptible bodie and immortal soule is finally admonished to praise our Lord ouer and aboue the praises of al other corporal creatures vvho also is more especially bond therto then Angels because God hath voutsaffed to make himselfe Man to redeme man that vvas lost by sinne and to endew him vvith nevv grace and so bring him to euerlasting glorie vvhere vvith holie Angels men also for euer euer shal praise our Lord vvith hart voice and iubilation of spirite singing as the Psalmist concludeth Alleluia The number of Psalmes signifieth the agrement of the old and nevv ● estament Three fifeties sign ●●● P●na●ce Mercie vvith ●ustice and Praises of God 〈◊〉 ● 〈◊〉 An. D● 380. Gloria Patri added by tradition The coherence of this part with the rest The contents of Sapiential bookes Preface before Iosue Why they are so called They are al Canonical Scripture Salomon is auctor of the three first Proem Annot. Prefac Tobiae Other bookes of Salomon not extant S. Iero in proem S. Aug. li. 17. c. 20. ●iuii A brief summe of these three Prologo galeato a Prouerbs b Ecclesiastes c Canticles VVhy this booke is called Prouerbes and Parables The contents Diuided into foure parts The first part An inuitation to seeke vvisdom vvith some general precepts a By these sentencious similitudes the studious may better conceiue and vnderstand true vvisdom and the vertues belonging therto b profound solide vvitte c Not only yongmen and inexperienced but also the vvise may lerne more vvisdom by these patables d shal be fitte to gouerne others e Feare of our Lord that is reuerence of his diuine Maiestie vvith desire duly to serue him and neuer to offend him is the first degree in ascending to perfect vvisdom vvhich consisteth not only in the vnderstanding but also in action g The second to resist euil suggestions h The proper remedie against such alurements is to be vvatchful and to ●ee from them Three kindes of vvisdom Diuine Attributes are not qualiries in God but his substance VVisdom increated is God himselfe VVisdom the gifte of Holie Ghost Humane vvisdom Four benefites of God Vocation Helpe Instruction Repreheasion Reward of workes a This frequent maner of proposing the vvay and meanes to vvisdom If thou vvilt receiue my vvordes c. shevveth most cuidently the povvre of mans free vvil b Not euerie desire or sleight seeking of vvi●dom sufficieth but such laborious seeking is required as a couetous man s●ekerb●re●sure vvhich he knoweth to be hid in the ground Sap. 3. v. 32. 10. v. ● c A description of peruers sinners especially of heretikes Foure markes of an heretike 1. He forsaketh the knowen faith Isaiae 35. v. ● 2. He glorieth in his ovvne invention 3 Teacheth pleasing thinges Rom. 1● v. 18. 4. Admitteth no iudge but himself ●it ● v. 11. a It auaileth litle to heare good instructions except we 〈…〉 them in memorie b not ●n books only but in the hart c and ●ut them in execution d knovv also that al thy streingth is in Go● in whom th●● m●●st 〈◊〉 ●●ust not in th●● o 〈…〉 〈…〉 e e 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 〈…〉 those that endeuour 〈◊〉 God is a 〈◊〉 of his s●u●ur tovvards them and therfore his other promises vvhich seme to be temporal are to be vnderstood of the next life f God revvardeth as it vvere vvith both handes promising eternal life g and competent meanes in this life h M 〈…〉 for the wordes of thy mouth i Almes in season 〈◊〉 vvorth to that vvhich is differred long :: As Salomon was instructed by his father king Dauid so he teacheth others the right order hovve to lerne vvisdom :: The first part of wisdom is to desire it For nothing hinde res● from being ●ust but that ●ustice is not desired S. Aug in Psal 118. v. 20. :: As the hart is the principal part of the bodie so the vvil is the chiefest powre of the soule from vvhich good or euil procedeth a To auoide al impietie it is first of al necessarie not to thinke speake nor heare vnlawful thinges b By woman is generally vnderstood concupiscence of vvhat sinne soeuer as ch 1. v. 10. ch 3. v. 33 chap 4. v. 14. c The vvorld the flesh and the diuel are strangers d And cruel enemies that render for revvard eternal damnation e Good doctrine is to be imperted to men of sincere intention f no to contemners and obstinate in●idels The vvisman doth not absolutly disvvade from al maner of suretishippe but from rashly or vnaduisedly ansvvering for others And especially exhorteth to vse al diligence in performing or causing others to performe that vvhich is promised or couenanted :: Euerie one that sinneth vvittingly and of malice refusing to obey God imployeth his mouth eyes feete handes and al partes vvith a vvicked hart and intention to peruerte others most proper to heretikes apostates from the faith :: The forme● six are al damnable but this seuenth is most detestable because it is opposite to the chief vertue charitie it breaketh vnitie is the proper sinne
brethren to minister in the presence of the Arke continually day by day and in their courses † Moreouer Obededom and his brethren sixtie eight and Obededom the sonne of Idithun and Hosa he appoynted for porters † And Sadoc the priest and his brethren priestes before the tabernacle of our Lord in the excelse which was in Gabaon † that they should offer holocaustes to our Lord vpon the altar of holocaust continually morning and euening according to al thinges that are writen in the law of our Lord which he commanded Israel † And after him Heman and Idithun and the rest of the chosen men euerie one by his name to confesse vnto our Lord Because his mercie is for euer † Heman also and Idithun sounding the trumpet and quauering on the cymbals and al musical instrumentes to sing vnto God and the sonnes of Idithun he made porters † And al the people returned into their house and Dauid to blesse also his house CHAP. XVII Dauid determining to build a Temple 11. is admonished by Nathan the prophet that not he but his sonne sbal build it and be established in the kingdom 16. Dauid extolleth Gods benignitie towards him and the people AND when Dauid dwelt in his house he sayd to Nathan the prophete Behold I dwel in a house of cedar and the Arke of the couenant of our Lord is vnder skinnes † And Nathan sayd to Dauid Al thinges that are in thy hart doe for God is with thee † Therfore that night the word of God came to Nathan saying † Goe and speake to Dauid my seruant Thus sayth our Lord Thou shalt not build me a house to dwel in † For neither haue I remayned in house from the time that I brought out Israel vntil this day but I haue bene alwaies changing places of tabernacle and in tent † abyding with al Israel Did I speake to one at the least of al the iudges of Israel whom I commanded to feede my people and did I say Why haue you not built me a house of cedar † Now therfore so shalt thou speake to my seruant Dauid Thus sayeth the Lord of hostes I tooke thee when in the past●res thou did●st folow the flocke that thou shouldest be prince of my people Israel † And I haue beene with thee whither soeuer thou wentest and I haue slayne al thine enemies before thee and haue made thee a name as of one of the great ones that are renowmed in the earth † And I haue geuen a place to my people Israel it shal be planted and shal dwel therin and shal be moued no more neither shal the children of iniquitie consume them as from the beginning † since the dayes that I gaue Iudges to my people Israel and humbled al thine enimies I therfore tel thee that our Lord wil build thee a house † And when thou shalt haue accomplished thy daies to goe to thy fathers I wil rayse vp thy seede after thee which shal be of thy children and I wil establish his kingdom † He shal build me a house and I wil confirme his throne for euer † I wil be to him for a father and he shal be to me for a sonne and my mercie I wil not take from him as I tooke from him that was before thee † And I wil establish him in my house and in my kingdom for euer and his throne shal be most firme for euer † According to al these wordes and according to al this vision so spake Nathan to Dauid † And when king Dauid came and sate before our Lord he sayd Who am I Lord God and what is my house that thou shouldest geue me such thinges † But this also hath semed little in thy sight and therfore thou hast spoken concerning the house of thy seruant for time to come also and hast made me renowned aboue al men Lord God † What can Dauid adde farther wheras thou hast soe glorified thy seruant and knowen him † Lord for thy seruant according to thy hart thou hast done al this magnificence and would haue al thy great wonders to be knowen † Lord there is not the like to thee and there is none other beside thee of al whom we haue heard with our eares † For what other is there as thy people Israel one nation in the earth to the which God went to deliuer it and make it his people and with his greatenesse and terrours cast out the nations before the face of it which he deliuered out of Aegypt † And thou hast made thy people Israel to be thy people euer and thou Lord art made the God therof † Now therfore Lord the word which thou hast spoken to thy seruant and concerning his house be it confirmed for euer and do as thou hast spoken † And let thy name remayne and be magnified for euer and let it be sayd The Lord of hostes is God of Israel and the house of Dauid his seruant permanent before him † For thou Lord my God hast reueled the eare of thy seruant to build him a house and therfore thy seruant hath found confidence to pray before thee † Now therfore Lord thou art God and thou hast spoken to thy seruant so great benefittes † And thou hast begunne to blesse the house of thy seruant that it be alwaies before thee for thee ô Lord blessing it it shal be blessed for euer CHAP. XVIII King Dauid hath great victories making manie nations tributarie 15. his chiefe officeres are recounted AND it came to passe after these thinges that Dauid stroke the Philisthijms and humbled them and tooke away Geth and her daughters out of the hand of the Philisthijms † and stroke Moob and the Moabites were made Dauids seruantes offering him giftes † At that time Dauid stroke Adazezer also the king of Soba of the countrie of Hemath when he went on to dilate his empire as farre as the riuer Euphrates † Dauid therfore tooke a thousand chariotes of his seuen thousand horsmen twentie thousand footemen he hoghsinewed al the chariot horses sauing an hundred chariotes which he reserued to himself † And the Syrian also of Damascus came moreouer to giue ayde to Adarezer the king of Soba but Dauid stroke also of his two twentie thousand men † And he put souldiars in Damascus that Syria also should serue him bring giftes And our Lord holpe him in al thinges to the which he went † Dauid also tooke the golden quyuers which the seruantes of Adarezer had and he brought them into Ierusalem † Moreouer of The bath and Chun the cities of Adarezer verie much brasse of which Salomon made the brasen Sea and pillers and brasen vessels † Which when Tou the king of Hemath had heard to witte that Dauid had striken al the armie of Adarezer the king of Soba † he sent Adoram his soune to king Dauid to desire peace of him to congratulate him that he had striken and had ouerthrowen Adarezer
for Tou was aduersarie to Adarezer † But al the vessel also of gold and siluer and brasse king Dauid consecrated to our Lord with the siluer and gold which he had taken out of al the nations as wel of Idumea and Moab the children of Ammon as of the Philisthijms and Amalec † And Abisai the sonne of Saruia stroke Edom in the Vale of salt pittes eightene thousand † and he appoynted a garryson in Edom that Idumea should serue Dauid and our Lord saued Dauid in al thinges to which he went † Dauid therfore reigned ouer al Israel did iudgement and iustice to al his people † Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia was ouer the armie and Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud commenter † And Sadoc the sonne of Achitob Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar Priestes and Susa Scribe † Banaias also the sonne of Ioiada ouer the legions Cerethi and Phelethi moreouer the sonnes of Dauid the chief at the kinges hand CHAP. XIX The king of Ammon euil intreating king Dauids men whom he had curteously sent to condole the death of his father is ouerthrowen in battel 16. with the Assyrians his hyred confederates AND it chanced that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died and his sonne reigned for him † And Dauid sayd I wil do mercie with Hanon the sonne of Naas for his father hath done me pleasure And Dauid sent messengers to confort him vpon the death of his father Who when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon to confort Hanon † the princes of the children of Ammon fayd to Hanon Thou thinkest perhaps that Dauid for honour sake toward thy father hath sent some that should comfort thee neither marke●t thou that his seruantes are come to thee to espie and seeke out and searche thy land † Therfore Hanon made the seruantes of Dauid balde and shaued them and cut away their cotes from the buttockes to the feete and sent them away † Who when they were gone and had sent word to Dauid he sent to meete them for they had susteyned great reproch and commanded them to tarie in Iericho til their beard grewe and then they should returne † And the children of Ammon seing that they had done iniurie to Dauid as wel Hanon as the rest of the people they sent a thousand talents of siluer to hyre them chariotes and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and from Siria Maacha and from Soba † And they hyred two and thirtre thousand chariotes and king Maacha with his people Who when they were come camped ouer agaynst Medaba The children of Ammon also being gathered together out of their cities came to the battel † Which when Dauid had heard he sent Ioab and al the host of valiant men † and the children of Ammon issuing forth put their armie in aray beside the gate of the citie and the kinges that were come to ayde him stood apart in the field † Ioab therfore vnderstanding that battel was made agaynst him before and behind chose the most valiant men of al Israel and marched on against the Syrian † And the rest of the people he gaue vnder the hand of Abisai his brother and they went forth agaynst the children of Ammon † And he sayd If the Syrian shal ouercome me thou snalt ayde me and if the children of Ammon shal ouercome thee I wil ayde thee † Take courage and let vs play the men for our people and for the cities of our God and our Lord wil doe that which is good in his sight † Ioab therfore matched on and the people that were with him agaynst the Syrian to battel and he put them to flight † Moreouer the childen of Ammon seing that the Syrian was fled themselues also fled from Abisai his brother and went into the citie and Ioab also returned into Ierusalem † But the Syrian seing that he was fallen before Israel sent messengers and brought the Syrian that was beyond the riuer and Sophach the General of Adereze●s warre was their captayne † Which when it was told Dauid he gathered together al Israel and passed Iordan and fel vpon them and directed his armie agaynst him they fighting on the contrarie part † And the Syrian fled from Israel and Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen thousand chariotes and fourtie thousand footemen and Sophach General of the armie † And the seruantes of Adarezer seing themselues to be ouercome of Israel fled to Dauid serued him and Syria would no more giue ayde to the children of Ammon CHAP. XX. King Dauid prospereth in Warre agaynst the Ammonites 4. and Philisthims 6. among Whom Ionathan Dauids nephew by his brother killeth a monfiruous giant Which had twelue fingers and twelue toes AND it came to passe after the compasse of a yeare at such time when kinges are wont to goe forth to battel Ioab gathered together the armie and force of warre and spoyled the land of the children of Ammon and went on and besieged Rabba Moreouer Dauid taried in Ierusalem when Ioab stroke Rabba and destroyed it † And Dauid tooke the crowne of Melchom from his head and found in it a talent weight of gold and most precious pearles and he made himself therof a diademe he tooke also the spoiles of the citie very much † And the people that was therin he brought forth and he made harrowes and sleddes and chariotes shod with Iron to passe ouer them soc that they were cut in sunder broken in peces so did Dauid to al the cities of the children of Ammon he returned with al his people into Ierusalem † After these thinges there was warre begunne in Gazer agaynst the Philisthians in which Sobachai the Husathite stroke Saphai of the kinred of Raphaim humbled them † An other battel also was fought agaynst the Philistheans wherein Adeodatus the sonne of Saltus a Bethlehemite stroke the brother of Goliath the Getheite the staffe of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame † But an other battel also happened in Geth wherin there was a verie long man hauing fingers and toes by six and six that is together foure and twentie who also was borne of the stocke of Rapha † This man blasphemed Israel and Ionathan the sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him These be the children of Rapha in Geth which fel by the hand of Dauid and of his seruantes CHAP. XXI Dauid sinneth in numbring his people 8. repenteth and prayeth yet is punished many dying of the plague 15. til God shewing mercie spareth the rest 16. Dauid accusing himselfe and excusing the people is commanded by the Angel to offer sacrifice which he 22 bying ground for an altar 26. performeth BVT Satan rose agaynst Israel and moued Dauid to number Israel † And Dauid sayd to Ioab and to the princes of the people Goe and number Israel from Bersabee vnto Dan and bring me the number that I may know † And Ioab answered
because he hath gathered them together as the haye of the floore † Arise and thresh ô daughter of Sion because I wil make thy horne of yron and thy hoofes I wil make of brasse thou shalt breake in peeces manie peoples and shalt kil the spoiles of them to our Lord and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth CHAP. V. Ierusalem shal be besieged and taken 2. Christ shal be borne in Bethlehem 3. the Iewes shal not be wholly reiected vntil the Gentiles beginne to embrace the true faith 4. Which shal be spred in the whole world 8. pure from idolatrie 14. and the incredulous punished NOW shalt thou be spoiled daughter of the spoiler they haue layd si●ge vpon vs with a rod shal they strike the cheeke of the iudge of Israel † AND THOV BETHLEHEM Ephrata art a litle one in the thousands of Iuda out of thee shal come forth vnto me he that shal be the dominatour in Israel and his coming forth “ from the begynning from the dayes of eternitie † Therfore shal he geue them euen til the time wherin she that traueleth shal bring forth and the remnant of his bretheren shal be conuerted to the children of Israel † And he shal stand and feede in the strength of our Lord in the height of the name of our Lord his God and they shal be conuerted because now shal he be magnified euen to the endes of the earth † And this man shal be peace when the Assyrian shal come into our land and when he shal tread in our houses and we wil rayse vpon him “ seuen pastours and “ eight principal men † And they shal feede the land of Assur in the sword and the land of Nemrod in the speares therof and he shal deliuer from Assur when he shal come into our Land and when he shal tread in our coasts † And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the middes of manie peoples as dew from our Lord and as droppes vpon the grasse which expecteth not man and tarieth not for the children of men † And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the Gentiles in the middes of manie peoples as a lion among the beasts of the forests and as a lions whelpe among the flockes of cattel who when he hath passed and troden downe and taken there is none to deliue● † Thy hand shal be exalted ouer thine enemies and al thine enemies shal perish † And it shal be in that day sayth our Lord I wil take away thy horses out of the middes of thee and wil destroy thy chariots † And I wil destroy the cities of thy land and wil destroy al thy munitions and I wil take away sorceries out of thy hand there shal be no diuinations in thee † And I wil make thy sculptils to perish and thy statuees out of the middes of thee and thou shalt no more adore the workes of thy handes † And I wil plucke vp thy groues out of the middes of thee and wil destroy thy cities † And I wil doe vengeance in furie and in indignation among al the nations that haue not heard ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 2. From the beginning from the dayes of eternitie To signifie that Christ taking mans nature vvas neuertheles eternal God vvith the Father and Holie Ghost the prophet addeth that he vvas from the beginning and from the dayes of eternitie vvhich maner of speach by ●te●a●●ng the same termes as also seculum seculi secu●a saeculo●um the like signifie absolute eternitie Though the same wordes put single in some places do only importe long time or du●ing such a state as Exo. 21. v. 6. Psal 23. v. 7. 9. 5. Seuen pastors eight principal men Christ raiseth vp and alvvayes conserueth manie or a great number signified by the tvvo mystical numbers seuen and eight to defend the faithful people of the Church against Assur Nemrod that is against al persecutors and aduersaries These defenders are the Fathers and Doctors of the Church especially Bishops vvho are here called Pastors to admonish them that their office is to seed● the people vvith spiritual foode doctrine and Sacraments and are called also princes or principal men to admonish the people to obey and folovv their ordinance As S. Paul also admonisheth Obey your Prelates and be subiect to them For they vvatch as being to render account for your soules Heb. 13. CHAP. VI. God expostulateth with the chiefe of the Iewes 3. and with the whole people their ingratitude for his singular benefites 6. who is not pacified with sacrifices 8. but by doing iustice 9. which they not doing 13. shal be afflicted by their enimies HEARE ye what our Lord speaketh Arise contend in iudgement against the mountaines let the hilles heare thy voice † Let the mountaynes heare the iudgement of our Lord the strong fundations of the earth because the iudgement of our Lord is with his people and with Israel he wil be iudged † My people what haue I done to thee or what haue I molested thee answer me † Because I brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt deliuered thee out of the house of them that serued and sent before thy face Moyses and Aaron and Marie † My people remember I pray thee what Balach the king of Moab purposed and what Balaam the sonne of Beor answered him from Setim euen to Galgal that thou mightst know the iustices of our Lord. † What worthie thing shal I offer to our Lord shal I bow the knee to the high God What shal I offer vnto him holocausts calues of a yeare old † Why can our Lord be pacified with thousandes of rammes or with manie thousandes of fatte buckgoates Why shal I geue my first borne for my wickednes the fruite of my womb for the sinne of my soule † I wil shew thee ô man what is good and what our Lord requireth of thee Verely to do iudgement and to loue mercie and to walke solicitous with thy God † The voice of our Lord crieth to the citie and saluation shal be to them that feare thy name heare ye ô tribes and who shal approue it † As yet there is fire in the house of the impious treasures of iniquitie and a lesser measure ful of wrath † Why shal I iustifie an impious balance and the deceitful weights of the bag † By which her richmen were replenished with iniquitie and the inhabitants therin spake lies and their tongue was fraudulent in their mouth † And I therfore begane to strike thee with perdition for thy sinnes † Thou shalt eate shalt not be filled and thy humiliation in the middes of thee and thou shalt apprehend and shalt not saue and whom thou shalt saue I wil geue vnto the sword † Thou shalt sow and shalt not reape thou shalt tread the oliue and shalt not be anoynted with the oyle and presse muste shalt not drinke